Swim Safe invites children aged 7-14 to attend vital water safety lessons which will be held at locations in Worcester and West Bromwich.
Swim Safe is an initiative set up by Swim England and the RNLI which teaches water safety skills to children for free.
Felicity Bramford, Swim Safe Area Coordinator says: “Children love swimming outdoors, but it’s very different to swimming in a pool, where most children learn to swim.
“It is essential that children learn about open water safety – where it is safe to swim, how to stay safe and what to do if they get into difficulty in the water. The sessions at West Bromwich and Worcester are a great opportunity for children to come along and learn about open water safety, all for free!”
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.
The Worcester Swim Safe sessions will take place in the University of Worcester Lakeside Campus on the 3rd, 4th, 10th and 11th of August this summer. The instructors at this location have been provided by the University of Worcester, who are Swim Safe delivery partners.
The West Bromwich sessions will be held in the picturesque Swan Pool at the Sandwell Valley Country Park on the 5th, 6th, 7th, 12th and 13th of August. The instructors at this location have been provided by Birmingham City Council and Sandwell Council, who are Swim Safe delivery partners.
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.
RNLI Media Contact:
For more information contact Eleri Roberts, RNLI Regional Media Officer on 01745 585162 / 07771 941390 or email
[email protected]. Alternatively contact Mike Carhart-Harris, Public Relations Manager (Campaigns), RNLI, on 01202 663168 /
[email protected]
Notes to Editors:
Swim Safe Public Sessions will be held at these locations on the following dates:
Worcester: 3/4/10/11 August.
West Bromwich: 5/6/7/12/13 August.
Tywyn Beach: 10-12 August.
Cardiff: 11/18/25 August.
Criccieth: 23-25 August.
About Swim Safe:
Swim Safe was created by Swim England and the RNLI in 2013 to help children aged 7–14 stay safe while enjoying swimming outdoors.
From with 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.
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.
