A YOUNG volunteer from a St John Cymru Wales group in Torfaen has been named as the Outstanding Badger of the Year at an award ceremony in Cardiff.

Jemma Richards, 10, of Pontypool won the award for helping her mum at home, who has epilepsy, and for when she has a seizure.

The young volunteer joined her local Badger group in Griffithstown in 2013 to learn first aid.

Hayley Jones, Jemma’s mother, said: “Jemma can tell almost every time before my seizure starts that I’m not feeling myself.

“At that point, Jemma will lower me to the floor with the help of her older brother or sister and she will then time the seizure and ring my mum to let her know.

“Jemma will turn me on my side and keep talking to me so I can hear her voice when I’m coming around from the seizure.

“She also moves anything that she thinks could be a danger to me.

“After I have a seizure, Jemma knows I can’t do anything for four hours so she will help do things around the house.

“All I can say is what an amazing young person she is.”

The Badger and Cadet programmes with St John Cymru Wales run all over the country, with the first group suitable for children aged between five and 10 and the latter group for young people aged 10 to 17.

The Outstanding Badger of the Year award in name in honour of The Commandant-in-Chief’s HRH Duchess of Gloucester and is given to a member who has acted as a carer at home.