First aiders move to a new base at Millwey Rise

First aiders in Axminster are on the move - thanks to a £45,000 investment by St John Ambulance.

The charity is relocating from its old building in West Street to a new home in Weycroft Avenue.

And the change means the organisation will be able to offer workplace and community first aid training, plus courses and qualifications in fire marshalling, health and safety and other disciplines from January, for the first time in the town.

Volunteer unit manager Simon Enticott said: “St John Ambulance is going from strength to strength in Axminster, with more than 30 volunteers of all ages.

“As well as our team of adult volunteers providing vital first aid cover for local events, in East Devon and the wider area, we have thriving groups of cadets – 11 to 17-year-olds – and badgers, aged from seven to 10, so we’ve got a very bright future in the town.

“Taking on this new building is a huge vote of confidence in what we’ve achieved, and we’re thrilled to be moving into modern premises with hugely improved office, meeting and training facilities.

“Running training courses from the Weycroft Avenue venue will also bring in much-needed funds to the charity.”

St John Ambulance’s facilities manager, Philip Walker, added: “We have been considering how best to invest in Axminster for some time and this new building provides a perfect base from which to expand the services we offer.

“The town is ideally situated, with strategic transport links to the north, south, east and west, that will not only to help us support communities in East Devon, but also meet the needs of people and businesses in rural areas of South Somerset and West Dorset.

“By adding a major new training hub to Axminster, we’ll be providing more people than ever with the skills to be the difference between a life lost and a life saved.” For more information on St John Ambulance’s work, including how to become a volunteer and details of training for the public, schools and businesses, visit their website at www.sja.org.uk or call 08700 10 49 50.