Police Commissioner visits Flintshire youth project teaching life-saving first aid
A project to provide essential first aid training for young people in Flintshire was the focus of a recent visit by Andy Dunbobbin, Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for North Wales.
The ‘North Wales StreetDoctors’ initiative trains at-risk young people in first aid skills so they can assist in emergencies where someone may have been stabbed or knocked unconscious, potentially saving lives.
Youth workers and healthcare volunteers lead the training, which educates around 250 young people aged 11-18 across Flintshire on the medical consequences of injuries, as well as the mental health impacts of violence.
Run by the charity StreetDoctors, the programme receives funding as part of the North Wales Serious Violence Response Strategy, a regional effort to prevent and reduce serious violence through community partnerships that include police, health services, and local authorities.
On 23 October, PCC Andy Dunbobbin attended a session of the project at Flint High School. During the visit, he observed Year 9 students participating in a session on treating knife injuries and bleeding.
The approach avoids scare tactics, instead empowering young people with practical knowledge on how to respond to life-threatening injuries.
Training covers the body’s response to trauma, the physical and psychological consequences of violence, and evaluates students’ willingness to help in emergencies.
Mr Dunbobbin praised the initiative, saying, “It was a pleasure to visit Flint High School and see the ‘North Wales StreetDoctors’ project in action. This initiative, which is part of the vital North Wales Serious Violence Response Strategy, will help improve knowledge of the medical and mental health consequences of violence. It will also offer young people new skills and an understanding of what to do in an emergency, such as a stabbing, or if they encounter an unconscious victim. I hope it will also improve their confidence and willingness to step forward and provide life-saving first aid if needed.”
He added that serious violence remains a concern, with North Wales Police recording over 30,000 incidents of violent offences in 2022-23. “While this was a welcome decrease from the year before – and shows the hard work of North Wales Police and partners in the community – I am determined to see this figure drop even further,” Dunbobbin said.
James Warr, Youth Justice Manager for Flintshire, emphasised the positive impact of the programme. “With the support of the Police and Crime Commissioner, StreetDoctors has provided a valuable input with children and young people in schools, offering clear and useful information aimed at reducing the impact of serious violence in our communities,” he said.
Phil Crandle, Operations Manager at StreetDoctors, explained, “At StreetDoctors, we believe young people are part of the solution to street violence. By giving young people the skills and knowledge on both the physical and psychological effects of violence, we empower them to keep themselves and others safe. In 2023, we found that 74% of young people we worked with had increased their knowledge of the impact of violence, with 71% having an increased confidence to act using the practical first aid they had learnt.”
In 2024 alone, StreetDoctors has trained over 10,000 young people across the UK. The charity is pleased to partner with the North Wales Serious Violence Response Strategy, supporting local efforts to reduce crime.
Diane Jones, Serious Violence Programme Lead for the PCC’s office, noted, “This pioneering work in Flintshire, supported by partners across the region, demonstrates the impact of health professionals working directly with schools. Prioritising prevention in schools is essential, and we are committed to expanding this initiative to other counties.”
