Highest accolade for St Bart’s pupil’s volunteer work with Newbury and Thatcham St John Ambulance Cadets
A Newbury teenager is to receive an international award for her achievements with St John Ambulance.
Cadet Kat Wright, 18, will be receiving The Sovereign Award – the premier achievement for young people within the Order of St John worldwide, including St John Ambulance in England and the Islands.
The award – which she will accept in November in London – includes a certificate personally signed by the Sovereign Head of the Order, His Majesty King Charles III.
And it is given to young St John Ambulance volunteers in recognition of outstanding work in the areas of personal development, benefit to St John and benefit to their community.
Only 10 awards are issued each year internationally.
And one of those ten, this year, was Miss Wright.
She joined St John Ambulance at around 11-years-old following an assembly at her school, St Bartholomew’s in Newbury.
She has completed around 6,000 hours of volunteer work including volunteering as a first aider at the late Queen’s funeral at Windsor Castle.
Miss Wright also won a speaking competition – Speak Up to Save Lives – where she spoke about neurodiversity.
She said she has gained confidence since joining.
“I am autistic so I was quite isolated at school,” she said.
“I don’t really make friends well.
“I was a sergeant so I took on a lot of leadership roles and things.”
She added: “I have forwarded the [award] email to every family member I have got.
“The award presentation is in November so it will feel more real then.”
She was nominated for the award in September by unit manager at Newbury and Thatcham St John Ambulance Cadets, Sarah Newton, who said: “Kat was quite shy when she first came to us but she soon came out of her shell.
“And it was clear from the beginning that she was quite intelligent.
“We have loved having her at St John Ambulance, I am so proud of her.”
She added: “I do feel that she has a lot more to give.
“I could see the potential in her; she is going to go on to do really great things she has got the potential there to do something amazing with her life.”
Miss Wright plans to go to university to study global humanitarian studies or international, social and public policy.