Organisers of the St John Ambulance unit in Ely are appealing for young people between the age of 10 and 17 to become volunteers at a new cadet unit in the city.

The unit is set to open its doors at the end of September and, guided by youth leaders, cadets take part in an interactive programme working towards their Grand Prior Award – the highest achievement they can obtain as a cadet.

“The cadet programme enables young people to learn important life skills in a fun and safe environment, but with challenge and excitement appropriate to their age,” said a spokesman.

“Cadets can choose from over 70 different subjects to help complete their award. These range from fire prevention and photography,

to sports and first aid.”

Teaching takes place at a weekly unit meeting and the Ely Cadets will meet on Wednesdays between 6.30pm and 8pm at Ely Youth Forum on Barton Road.

Kat Cattani, unit manager of the cadet group in Ely, said: ‘We’ve had an active adult unit in Ely for some time now and we’d like to get younger people in the city and surrounding villages interested in volunteering with us and learning to be our next generation of life savers.

“It really is true that you are never too young to learn first aid and save a life and we hear regularly of teenagers, and even younger children, who use their life saving skills to good effect.

“The training we give cadets is not only fun but also hugely useful, with a focus on essential life skills and giving them the potential to be the difference between a life lost and a life saved.”

Local parents interested in enrolling their children in the new cadet unit should contact Kat on 07943 072172 or email elycadets@hotmail.com

For more information about St John Ambulance Cadets, visit www.sja.org.uk/sja/youngpeople/cadets-ages-10-17.aspx