National Work Life Week celebrates a wellbeing and work life balance for all.
Today John Baxter of Blood Bikes Scotland, who have a dedicated car sponsored by our personal injury firm, opens up about his life-saving role and how he balances volunteering with his home life.
When you were younger what did you want to be when growing up and why?
I always wanted to join the police and my actual reason for that was to be able to ride motorbikes!
Why did you get involved in volunteering for Blood Bikes Scotland?
When I got back into motorbikes I did advanced training. I did that by way of wanting to make sure I was still safe. Once I’d done the training, I saw adverts for Blood Bikes and the two things came together. I didn’t realise at that point what it was going to develop into but it’s been so worthwhile.
How old were you when you first started riding motorbikes?
I was about 17 when I first started getting into bikes which then moved to cars. In my 30s they changed the test to ride a bike so I did that and was using the bike as a second form of transport. I fell out of it again for about 10 years and in 2015 got back into it again. I’ve always been interested in bikes from a young age.
How do you maintain a health work / life balance?
Starting to do the volunteering was actually one of the things I did to get my work / life balance back in control while I was working in IT for a bank. So I found something that was outside of work that I enjoyed doing and improved that balance.
What has been the highlight of your career?
I guess that would be seeing the success and the growth of Blood Bikes Scotland in the last three years. We’ve gone from three very old motorbikes and about 15 people to 16 vehicles and over 100 volunteers. That has been a great highlight and a great success.
What is your favourite post work meal?
A simple plate of macaroni cheese.
What motto do you live by?
I’ve always gone by trying to treat everyone else as I want to be treated myself. I’d also say that people should never try and be someone that they’re not.
When discussing your job with other people, what question do you get asked the most?
People always ask if we’re allowed to break the speed limit – the answer is no! We do everything by the highway code.
What’s your favourite TV show?
Line of Duty.
What would you do if you won the lottery?
Share the good fortune with family and friends and good causes.