Order of Saint John (chartered 1888)

Imagine a team of really kind people who started a long, long time ago. They are called the Order of St John. They were given a special permission by Queen Victoria in 1888 to help others. Their main job is to help people when they are sick or hurt, and to make everyone healthier. They are like a secret club for good deeds, working all over the world to make things better for people.

The Order of St John is famous for starting groups like St John Ambulance. You might have seen them at sports games or big events, ready to help if someone gets hurt. They also run special eye hospitals to help people see better.

It's like having a team of doctors and helpers always ready to lend a hand, no matter where you are. They don't care if you believe the same things they do, they just want to help!

These helpers are super important because they are always there when you need them most. Think about when you scrape your knee; St John Ambulance is there to put a bandage on it. Or if someone needs help seeing, the eye hospitals can fix that. They have been doing this for hundreds of years, helping millions of people. They are like a worldwide hug for anyone who needs care and comfort.

The Order of St John has a really old story! It started way back in the Middle Ages, like in the time of knights and castles. They were called the Knights Hospitaller and they helped people who were sick or on journeys.

Over many, many years, a part of this group came to Britain and Queen Victoria gave them a special charter in 1888. This made them official helpers for modern times, still following their old mission.