13/09/2025
Sandi is our Registered Care Manager here at Home Instead. When
she is not in the office Sandi has a variety of interests. One of those is
Rugby, her family (including her ‘fur-babies’!) and the other is
volunteering for St John Ambulance.
Her work with St John Ambulance takes Sandi to a variety of
community and local events. One of the main places Sandi
volunteers is Franklins Gardens for various Rugby Games. This
includes Northampton’s own Saints, as well as the recent Women’s
World Rugby Cup. Below Sandi has written a little about what led her
to volunteer for St John Ambulance, what her work in the community
entails and why she plans to continue this for some time.
Sandi has shared photos where permission has been granted to share
these.
“Throughout my life, I’ve always found fulfilment in giving back to the community. When my children were
small, I served as a Cub Scout Leader, later becoming a reading coach at their school. Before moving to
Corby, I had the privilege of volunteering at a Women’s Refuge Centre. Each experience reinforced my love
for teamwork and the incredible sense of purpose that comes with helping others.
When I moved to Corby, I discovered St John Ambulance and felt it was the perfect opportunity to blend my
passion for volunteering with my First Aid experience. I completed the rigorous training and began attending
meetings at the Kettering Branch.
St John Ambulance is a charity that provides crucial First Aid services in many areas, from supporting the
NHS with additional ambulance cover to offering training courses that help individuals and companies get
qualified first aiders. We also provide First Aid cover at a wide variety of local events — from community
fetes and school athletics to large-scale events like the London Marathon and my personal favourite,
Northampton Saints Rugby matches.
What makes this experience truly rewarding is the sense of camaraderie and teamwork within the core
group of volunteers who cover these events. Our team ranges in age from 16 to 65, and it’s inspiring to work
alongside such a diverse group, all united by the shared goal of helping others. I’ve treated everything from
cardiac arrests at the London Marathon to blisters, wounds, and seizures at local events.
I especially enjoy engaging with the public and speaking to people from all walks of life. It’s a privilege to be
able to make a positive difference, no matter how big or small.
As many of you will know, Northampton is hosting the Ladies World Cup Rugby Tournament, and I had the
opportunity to volunteer there last weekend. Some of the photos I’ve shared here were taken during this
event, capturing the incredible energy, teamwork, and passion that make volunteering so rewarding.”
