Llandeilo's St John's unit faces axe (From South Wales Guardian)

Llandeilo's St John's unit faces axe

6:10am Friday 2nd November 2012 in News

LLANDEILO’S historic St John Ambulance unit is on the brink of closure after almost a century of providing life-saving medical assistance to the community.

National bosses of the charity have earmarked the Llandeilo division, based at the St John Ambulance Hall on Dynevor Avenue, to be formally disbanded and merged with Ammanford due to a chronic lack of volunteers.

With only two members currently registered, the division is all but certain to follow Llandovery and disappear permanently, but local officers are refusing to give up hope.

“If we cannot get any more members they will almost certainly merge the unit with Ammanford,”

said divisional officer Simon Martin.

“If we do end up getting merged we will have to accept it.

“The division is slightly unusual because unlike most others we actually own the hall and they would probably keep the building, but the unit itself would disappear.

“A complete division needs 12 members, but since 2004 the best we have had is six or seven.

“I currently have two members, both of whom are in their 60s.

“We desperately need people in their 20s, 30s and 40s to keep things ticking over, but you have to have people with a bit of spare time during the evening and at weekends for training and to provide first aid at community events.

“The unit has been in Llandeilo for just under 100 years and it would be a sad day to see it close.

“It is not quite a done deal and if we can get more members we will be able to stay in Llandeilo, but as things stands that seems unlikely.”

Anyone interested in volunteering can contact Simon on 07974 236830.