The Beccles and Bungay units of St John Ambulance are calling for new volunteers to join the nation's leading first aid charity.

Both units need new volunteers to learn first aid and offer their skills and time in the community at public events, as first responders or providing back up to local ambulance services.

The call follows an awards ceremony held by the Bungay unit of St John Ambulance, where a number of awards were presented to Badgers and Cadets who passed key certificates and proficiencies during 2013 as they learn to become the life-savers of the future, along with adult volunteers who were recognised for a successful year of duties.

The event was attended by St John Ambulance senior officers Tony Curd, district manager for Central Anglia, Duncan Parnell, area manager and Martin Robbins, district youth officer, along with Bungay town reeve Michael Davies, mayor Judy Cloke and Reverend David Gibson, Minister of Emmanuel Church, where the event took place.

Caroline Aldous, manager of the Bungay unit, said: 'We're looking forward to continuing to work with the adult volunteers and to help develop the skills and experience of the Badgers and Cadets through 2014 and beyond.

'However, the story does not stop there. We're always looking for new volunteers and I would like to encourage anyone interested in working with St John Ambulance and learning skills which could potentially save lives to contact me at the unit.'

Receiving awards were Emma Bullman, Annabelle Coote and Caitlin Howard from the Badgers, volunteers aged between five to 10, Sam King, Claire Denham, Danielle Black, Toby King and Sam King from the Cadets, volunteers aged between 10 and 17, and Mark Hedges, Molly Martin, Gemma Aldous, Fudge Farrar, Jess Taylor, Andrew Leggett and Michael Atterwill from the adult volunteers.

Mr Curd added: 'As well as providing excellent support to the local community, the volunteers will soon take delivery of a new mobile treatment unit to replace an older one which had been taken out of service. Putting this new vehicle at the disposal of the Bungay unit will mean that they can continue to assist local members of the public at a variety of events and be the difference between a life lost and a live saved.'

To find out more about volunteering, or the possibility of becoming unit manager of the Beccles group, contact Mr Curd on 07976386699 or for the Bungay unit contact Mrs Aldous on 01986 894516.