A former nurse is giving free first-aid classes for teenagers after a young man was stabbed to death outside of her flat in Dulwich.
Susan Patterson, who is now a lay minister, has organised free training sessions for young people at Christ Church on Gipsy Hill and St John’s East Dulwich.
Her action was inspired by the tragic death of 18-year-old Donnell Rhule on the Kingwood Estate, West Dulwich in July 2020.
Following Donnell’s murder, Susan said: “It made me think how very useful it would be for young people to know to give first aid to knife wounds.”
“All I thought is if I had been outside I could have helped.”
She began looking for courses and, after a long search, found Street Doctors, a charity run by volunteer healthcare workers that trains young people to deliver emergency first aid.
Street Doctors, which Susan described as an “incredible charity,” provides the training, while the Diocese of Southwark helps finance the programme.
“All I did was pair the two together,” she said.
Although she was yet to follow up properly with the trainees, Susan had been told that people enjoyed the training and found it very helpful.
“We are right at the beginning, and so far have only trained nine young people, but they are finding it a positive experience. It is inspiring to see how people react.
“It means a lot to me to hear that young people feel safer,” she continued.
While Susan’s training has been hosted in local churches, Street Doctor’s trainers can come to any community space and deliver their classes.
Their hour-long sessions run through what to do if you find somebody who is bleeding, how to treat their wounds and what to avoid.
“It’s really, really simple,” says Susan.
She described how her Christian faith had influenced this “rewarding” work.
Susan said: “The Church of England has five marks of mission. Two of those are to respond to human need with service, and to transform unjust structures of society and pursue peace and reconciliation. This informs how we live our faith.”
“I feel this is a really practical way of living my faith. It is important to show God’s love to local people in our communities,” she added.
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The Diocese of Southwark had been very supportive of Susan’s effort.
“The Church is enthusiastic because they love Southwark, they love the people,” she says. “Our job is to be a Christian presence in every community. This is very much part of that.”
Nicola Thomas who is Head of our Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Department at the Diocese, added: “The church can and does help young people feel valued and provide them with security and safety and a sense of purpose in life – evidence shows they are really important for preventing violence.”
Susan is looking to expand the scheme to extra locations, as well as teaching young people what to do if they are stopped and searched by the police.
“I have been talking to other churches and sharing what I have learnt. We are thinking about other things for young people.
“They are so vulnerable once they step outside of their homes.”