WHEN Kerrie Aldridge reflects on her role overseeing safeguarding at St John Ambulance Cymru, she does not just carry policies. She carries the wisdom forged by her childhood.

Growing up facing enormous personal challenges, Kerrie discovered a community that saw her, believed in her and helped her build strength.

Today, she leads safeguarding across the charity, determined that others experience the same sense of belonging and protection she once found.

In a recent interview for the St John Ambulance Cymru podcast, Just in Case: Stories from St John, she explained: “I’m responsible for safeguarding all of our volunteers, all of our staff, and all the members of the public who come into contact with our organisation.

“If anyone’s got a safeguarding concern, they submit a report to us. We review it, we may offer advice or put in a referral to the local authority.”

She added: “I also provide a lot of wellbeing support, because I see that as important too. There are lots of issues in the UK at the moment around mental health and wellbeing, and we must provide that support.”

Kerrie’s journey with St John began at just five years old when she joined as a Badger, the youngest branch of the organisation. That weekly escape was far more than a hobby.

“I lived with a mother who had a really serious mental health condition, and it was tough growing up in that environment,” she recalled.

“But my mum had been part of St John as a child, and she was keen for me to be involved. It gave me purpose, a place where I could go once a week, where I was just Kerrie the Badger, I wasn’t a young carer, I wasn’t that girl whose mum was unwell.

“I developed first aid skills and made friendships that helped me build resilience. My Divisional Officers and Cadet Officers were incredibly supportive; they were really part of my life and almost safeguarded me themselves,” Kerrie says.

Those early experiences still inform her leadership. “I’m passionate about giving our young people what my leaders gave me. I understand what it’s like to grow up with challenges at home, so I want our leaders to be there for young people in the same way.”

Since joining the organisation in this role, Kerrie has introduced 10 Safeguarding Commitments, a clear, one-page pledge making it easy for everyone in St John Ambulance Cymru to understand and follow safeguarding standards.

She explained: “I wanted something visible, something everyone could sign up to.

“We’ve had safeguarding policies and training for a long time, but this was about capturing it in a way that was easy to see and remember. It’s about how we want people to behave, making sure they’re up to date with training, and ensuring anyone can report a concern without fear of reprisals.”

The launch of these commitments has already led to meaningful changes.

“We’ve seen more duty to report submissions, which means people are recognising and acting on safeguarding concerns,” Kerrie noted.

“We’ve had members report incidents at large events like concerts, leading to people being safeguarded. Leaders have taken ownership, some have laminated the commitments and put them in response cars, others have had their whole division sign them.”

One of Kerrie’s ongoing goals is to shift how safeguarding is perceived. “I’ve heard many times in different jobs, ‘Oh no, Safeguarding’s calling, something must be wrong.’ I want to change that narrative,” she says.

“Yes, people should report when something’s wrong, but they should also feel able to raise welfare concerns. I want people to feel seen, and to know we care about them.”

Looking ahead, she wants vigilance and kindness to go hand in hand. “Whether it’s a young person or an adult, if you notice a change in someone’s behaviour, ask them if they’re okay” she advised.

“We need to be confident our members and the people we treat are safe, and to act on any concerns we hear.”

She added: “There’s always hope that things can change. You can achieve amazing things with a little bit of support. Things might be tough right now, but they won’t always be.”

For those considering a role in safeguarding, empathy and active listening are essential in her view, not just hearing, but truly listening.

“There’s a difference between listening and hearing,” she observed.

“And you’ve got to have passion. The people we safeguard are the experts in their own situations; we’re there to walk alongside them and support them.”

From a five-year-old Badger seeking refuge to a National Safeguarding Manager shaping culture across Wales, Kerrie’s story is proof of the transformative power of community, compassion and determination.

“I’m so proud of my team for trusting me and embracing the changes I’ve brought in,” she reflected.

“Thank you for taking a chance on that little Badger who had a dream to be a social worker.”

If you are part of St John Ambulance Cymru, or you have a concern about the safety and well-being of someone you know, Kerrie invites you to reach out.

Whether you want to learn more about the safeguarding commitments or need to raise a concern, contact your safeguarding leads today. Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility, and by speaking up, you could make all the difference.

Just in Case: Stories from St John is available on all major podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, with new episodes set to release every month.

To listen via Apple Podcasts please visit: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-in-case-stories-from-st-john/id1830427277 

To listen via Spotify please visit: https://open.spotify.com/show/05SXgJnpuJ2oX176hzSAcq 

TWO upcoming open evenings in Pembroke are aiming to show how higher education can transform lives and few stories capture that better than that of local student Fred Murad.

Hosted by the University of Wales Trinity Saint David at Monkton Priory Community School, the events will highlight part-time degrees in Inclusive Education designed for those balancing work, family and other commitments.

For Fred, however, the journey into education didn’t begin with ambition but with loss.

“My journey into higher education was not born out of certainty, but out of profound loss and an urgent need to rebuild a life with meaning,” he said. 

After the death of his wife, his partner and best friend, Fred was left caring for his young children while navigating grief and uncertainty. He made the difficult decision to leave his job, stepping away from stability at one of the hardest points in his life.

“At that point, I had a choice: remain defined by loss or stand up and fight for my family’s future. I chose to invest in myself.”

What followed was a gradual rebuilding. Through the Springboard programme, Fred completed courses in numeracy, IT, classroom support and first aid – each one helping to restore confidence and routine.

“Returning to education as a mature student was not easy, but it became a lifeline. Each qualification helped me rebuild confidence, restore routine, and rediscover a sense of direction at a time when everything felt uncertain.”

That renewed sense of purpose led him into higher education, enrolling on the Foundation Degree in Inclusive Education delivered locally in Monkton.

For more than a decade, these courses have been offered by the University of Wales Trinity Saint David within the community, creating accessible routes into higher education for those who might not otherwise consider it. Delivered in evening sessions at Monkton, they are particularly suited to people already working or volunteering in schools, including learning support assistants and teaching assistants.

Fred says the experience has been transformative.

“The programme is academically rigorous but deeply supportive, recognising that students often bring complex life experiences with them into their studies.”

Now in his second year, he has progressed into full-time employment as a tutor at Pembrokeshire College and is working towards his AET Level 3 teaching qualification.

But beyond career progression, the course has reshaped how he understands learning itself.

“The Foundation Degree in Inclusive Education has fundamentally changed how I understand learning, barriers and support. It has given me insight into what my own children  and many other learners experience every day.”

What began as a personal turning point has become something more outward-facing.

“My learning is no longer just personal; it has become a way of giving back.”

His story is one the university hopes will resonate with others in the community who may be considering a return to education.

The upcoming open evenings will offer prospective students the chance to meet lecturers, explore the courses and ask questions in a relaxed, local setting.

These well-established programmes have been delivered at Monkton for over 10 years, with hundreds of students progressing to graduate with a degree. By offering courses locally, the university has created a proven pathway for non-traditional learners, particularly those balancing study with work and family life.

Taught after school hours in a supportive, less formal environment than a traditional campus, the evening sessions at Monkton make higher education more accessible to local people, especially those working or volunteering in schools as LSAs or teaching assistants.

Open evenings will take place at Monkton Priory Community School:

Tuesday 19 May, 4:00–6:00pm 

Tuesday 23 June, 4:00–6:00pm 

Fred has a clear message for anyone unsure about taking that first step:

“If you are thinking of doing this degree, I would highly recommend it. The university is very supportive, the lecturing staff are knowledgeable, welcoming, and genuinely want you to succeed.”

His journey is not about leaving the past behind, but about building something meaningful from it.

“What began in hardship has grown into a story of perseverance, reinvention and service… building a future with purpose – for myself, my children and for the students I now support.”

For those attending the open evenings, his experience offers a powerful example of what’s possible and a reminder that it’s never too late to start again.

For further information or if you have any questions about the programme, please contact Sue Ainsworth at [email protected] 

PARENT SAYS BOY BECAME SERIOUSLY ILL AFTER SWIMMING DURING FAMILY VISIT

CONCERN is growing in Pembrokeshire after a parent claimed their child was admitted to hospital after swimming in the sea at Tenby.

The post, shared in a local Tenby Facebook group, said the family had visited the resort between Monday and Thursday, with the boy swimming in the sea on Tuesday (May 6).

His parent wrote: “My son swam in the sea on the 6th and the next morning came down with terrible sickness and diarrhoea — he’s been very unwell since and has tonight been admitted to hospital.”

They added: “It’s terrible we can’t swim in our seas and rivers safely anymore. Please be aware.”

The post prompted hundreds of reactions and dozens of comments, with many people expressing sympathy for the family and others raising wider concerns about sewage pollution and water quality around the Pembrokeshire coast.

One commenter said: “This is a national disgrace, please put in a written complaint to Dŵr Cymru and Natural Resources Wales.”

Another asked: “Why were there no signs put up on the beaches to warn people it was unsafe to swim in?”

Others claimed they or family members had suffered illness after swimming at locations including Tenby, Amroth, Newgale and Coppet Hall.

One person wrote: “I got sepsis from a cut in Newgale surfing. Took six weeks in hospital and seven months recovery and still not right to get over it.”

Another said: “Please check with your son’s doctors regarding E.coli and a condition called HUS, which can develop from E.coli. My daughter swam at Amroth in 2022 after a sewage incident in the area and became seriously ill.”

No medical evidence has been published linking the latest reported illness directly to seawater exposure, and there is currently no official confirmation that conditions at Tenby caused the child’s illness.

However, the post has reignited anger over sewage discharges, pollution alerts and the information available to visitors and local people before entering the water.

Council response

However, Pembrokeshire County Council has confirmed that the only current “abnormal situation” officially notified to the authority relates to Lydstep Haven — not Tenby beaches.

In a statement to The Herald, the council said it was first notified by Natural Resources Wales on Wednesday (May 6) that NRW was declaring an abnormal situation at Lydstep Haven.

The council said a Facebook warning advising people not to swim was issued the same day.

Officers from the council’s Pollution Control Team attended the beach within two hours and installed warning signs at “appropriate locations”.

The authority confirmed the signs remained in place as of Monday morning (May 11).

Pembrokeshire County Council also said it had “not received any notifications or confirmed reports of health impacts associated with the incident.”

The council added that the notification from NRW related “only to Lydstep Haven”.

The authority continues to advise people not to swim at Lydstep Haven “until further notice”.

NRW is understood to still be investigating the cause of the incident.

Lydstep warning

The concern follows a recent warning at Lydstep Haven after Natural Resources Wales informed Pembrokeshire County Council of an “abnormal situation” which could temporarily affect bathing water quality.

Pembrokeshire County Council said officers from its Pollution Control Team had placed warning notices at various locations around the beach, temporarily advising against bathing while the matter was investigated.

Some residents questioned whether warnings were clear enough, particularly during busy holiday periods.

One commenter wrote: “Why aren’t there any warnings to holiday makers and visitors to our local area? It’s not fair that they find out information after someone becomes ill.”

Another said: “There should be notices and announcements on the beaches if there is an outage.”

Others pointed out that Surfers Against Sewage’s water quality app was not showing an active alert for Tenby itself, and suggested some online comments may have confused the current Lydstep warning with previous pollution notices affecting beaches in the Tenby area.

Protest at Broad Haven

The issue comes less than a week before campaigners stage a Surfers Against Sewage paddle-out protest at Broad Haven.

The protest is due to take place on Saturday, May 16, at 1:30pm, as part of a UK-wide day of action calling for an end to sewage pollution in rivers and seas.

Surfers Against Sewage says communities across the UK will gather on beaches, riverbanks and in the water to demand stronger action on sewage pollution.

The campaign group said: “We are sick of it. Sick of the lies, sick of the greed and sick of a system that’s rigged against us.”

A large banner has already been placed on Broad Haven seafront encouraging people to attend the protest.

Tourism concerns

The row has also raised concerns about the potential impact on Pembrokeshire’s tourism industry, with Tenby, Broad Haven, Newgale and other seaside communities heavily dependent on visitors during the spring and summer months.

One commenter wrote: “Not very good for a holiday destination is it.”

Another said: “Tourism will be massively affected by incidents like this, and people’s health and lives are being put at risk.”

Others called for stronger action from Welsh Government, Natural Resources Wales, Pembrokeshire County Council and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water.

The Herald has approached Natural Resources Wales, Pembrokeshire County Council and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water for comment.