Volunteer gets dream Caribbean trip

10:20am Friday 16th May 2008

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A PONTYPOOL woman won the trip of a lifetime to a Caribbean island in recognition of her voluntary work with St John Ambulance.

Heather Baldwin is a volunteering assistant leader for Griffithstown Badgers, the youngest group of St John Ambulance, for children aged five to 10.

She also works as a customer services assistant at Sainsbury's, Cwmbran, and last year was given two grants of £200 each for her Badgers group from the supermarket giant's Local Heroes programme.

Last month she was shocked to win a Sainsbury's Local Heroes Award for her voluntary work at an awards ceremony in London.

As well as getting an extra £300 for the Badgers, Mrs Baldwin was invited with other winners on a trip to the Caribbean island of St Lucia by Sainsbury's CEO Justin King.

During the five-day trip in September she will visit Fairtrade projects and plantations to see how Sainsbury's bananas are grown and harvested.

Mrs Baldwin, who moved to Pontypool from Toronto, Canada four years ago, said: "I can't believe I won. I'm so grateful to Sainsbury's for all their help."

She became involved with the St John's Ambulance three years ago when looking for after-school activities for her son Rhys, now aged nine.

Last year she became an adult first-aid volunteer, and has covered events including fetes and carnivals, as well as sports matches and concerts at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

Mrs Baldwin, who's married to husband Dafydd, said: "I enjoy it and I have made a lot of friends.

"I find it very rewarding and it's nice giving something back to the community."