If you've been to one of Brighton & Hove's many many public events (festivals, fun runs, parades, bonfire nights, bike rides, carnivals... the list is long and varied!) then you can't have failed to notice the St John Ambulance volunteers.

Always on hand to provide care on many levels, they plan meticulously for major events and provide an essential front-line ambulance service to the public, also supporting the national ambulance services on a very regular basis.

They'll be there for something as simple as hading out water at a packed live concert (they're always at the Dome Theatre), a slap of vaseline to a a runner's sore nipples or a massage for a cramped leg... but they're also able to deal with life-threatening situations, with volunteers trained from first aid up to Emergency Transport Attendant standard. Their volunteers treat over 130,000 casualties a year.

As well as essential first-aid assistance they also provide other opportunities for volunteers to help, such as their patient transport service.

Contact them if you're organising a big event and simply need some advice, or if you're thinking that you can spare the time to volunteer.