Swim Safe is an initiative delivered by Swim England and the RNLI, which aims to teach children aged between 7 and 14 important water safety skills that they wouldn’t learn in a swimming pool.
Monday 29 July will mark the first day of the public Swim Safe sessions held at Salford Quays. The Helly Hansen Watersports centre will host Swim Safe for the third year in a row, with the sessions being delivered by Salford Community Leisure. The public sessions will run each Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the summer holidays, excluding bank holidays. Although the sessions are currently fully booked, check the booking site closer to the dates of the sessions, or phone the venue to check for availability in case there have been any cancellations.
Swim Safe instructors will deliver water safety lessons to young children, so that if they find themselves, or anyone else in danger, they know how to react. Children at the sessions will be watched over by RNLI lifeguards, qualified instructors and volunteers.
All the kit needed to take part, including wetsuits, swim hats and flotation equipment, is provided for each child during the sessions. Children only need to bring their swimsuit and a towel. Each session gives children:
· Up to 30 minutes of practical, in-water tuition led by qualified instructors
· Essential open water safety advice.
Gareth Oxley, Swim Safe Area Coordinator said:
"Lots of children can swim, but swimming in a pool is a lot different to swimming in open water. It's important to host Swim Safe sessions inland as well as on the coast, as water safety is something every child needs to learn, regardless of where they live."
The Helly Hansen Watersports Centre at Salford Quays encourages the public to book onto organised, safe sessions and activities at the centre. This way, the public can be supervised and enjoy swimming in a safe environment.
The Swim Safe programme aims to support the UK Drowning Prevention Strategy’s aim of reducing accidental drowning by 50 per cent by 2026, to which Swim Wales and the RNLI are committed as members of the National Water Safety Forum.
About Swim Safe
Swim Safe was created by Swim England and the RNLI’s partnership in 2013 to help children aged 7–14 stay safe while enjoying swimming outdoors.
From a single scheme in Cornwall, Swim Safe has grown into a national programme spanning the UK. More than 20,000 children took part in a Swim Safe session across 29 locations in 2018.
This summer, Swim Safe is coming to 38 beach and inland water locations across England, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. It is being delivered in partnership with Swim Wales and a range of local delivery partners.
Find out more at swimsafe.org.uk
About Swim England
Formally known as the Amateur Swimming Association, Swim England is the national governing body for swimming in England. It helps people learn how to swim, enjoy the water safely, and compete in all aquatic sports.
Swim England’s vision is of a nation swimming and it strives to inspire everyone to enjoy the water in the way that suits them. Each month millions of people are able to enjoy swimming, diving, water polo and synchronised swimming, having been through the Swim England Learn to Swim Programme.
Swim England also supports its members, clubs and athletes, and runs qualification and education programmes to develop the workforce.
Media Invite
What:
There will be opportunities to interview swimming instructors, RNLI lifeguards and Swim Safe coordinators upon request.
Children with consent to be photographed will wear certain coloured wristbands during the sessions.
The media are invited to join in with the sessions, with wetsuits available for those wanting to join in with the water based activities. We would need to be notified in advance to arrange this.
When:
The media are invited to arrive from 10:45am, with a session starting at 11:15am, and are welcome to stay until 12:30pm.
Where:
Helly Hansen Watersports Centre,
15 The Quays,
Salford Quays,
M50 3SQ
Contact:
To confirm attendance or to ask any further questions please email Katie Lewis, Media Engagement Placement (Wales and West) at
[email protected] or phone 01745 585162, or alternatively Danielle Rush, RNLI Regional Media Manager on 07786 668829 or at
[email protected]
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.
