Help children Swim Safe with free water safety sessions in Cornwall
Children aged 7–14 will be able to learn vital water safety skills for free, as Swim England and the RNLI’s Swim Safe programme returns to venues throughout Cornwall this summer.
The fun, hour-long sessions teach young people how to swim safely outdoors and what to do if they, or someone else, get into difficulty in the water.
Swim England and the RNLI have partnered with local organisations to run free Swim Safe sessions at the following venues.
The following public sessions are available:
6, 13, 20 July and 17, 24 and 31 August
Ocean High Kiteboarding and SUP School, Marazion Beach (Follyfields Car Park)
21 July – 25 August (Sundays only)
Elemental UK Water Sports Centre, Swanpool Beach, Falmouth
21 July – 25 August (Sundays only)
Elemental UK Water Sports Centre, Tolcarne Beach, Newquay
22 July – 27 August (Mondays and Tuesdays only)
Surf House St Ives, The Island
2, 3 and 4 August
Millendreath Beach, Looe
29 July – 8 August
Bude Lifeboat Station, Summerleaze Beach
Parents and carers can book their child’s free place now at swimsafe.org.uk/locations/.
To take part, children must be aged between 7 and 14 and able to swim 25 metres unaided.
The sessions are run by qualified swimming instructors and lifeguards, supported by a team of volunteers and give children:
· Up to 30 minutes of practical, in-water tuition led by qualified instructors
· Essential open water safety advice
· A free Swim Safe goody bag take home
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 swim suit and a towel.
Swim Safe Area Coordinator, Charlotte Francis, says:
‘Children love swimming outdoors, but it’s very different to swimming in a pool, where most children learn to swim.
‘It’s essential 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.
‘We want all children to have access to this training, so all Swim Safe sessions are funded by the RNLI and Swim England partnership and so are completely free of charge.’
The programme aims to support the UK Drowning Prevention Strategy’s aim of reducing accidental drowning by 50 per cent by 2026, to which Swim England and the RNLI are committed as members of the National Water Safety Forum.
For more information about Swim Safe, visit swimsafe.org.uk
Media contacts
For more information, please contact:
Amy Caldwell RNLI Public Relations Manager on 07920818807 or email [email protected].
Mike Carhart-Harris, Public Relations Manager (Campaigns), RNLI, on 01202 663168 / [email protected]
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 36 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
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. For more information, visit swimming.org/swimengland
About the RNLI
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is the charity saves lives at sea. RNLI volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the UK and Ireland from 238 lifeboat stations. The charity’s seasonal lifeguards keep people safe throughout the summer on over 240 beaches, and dedicated flood rescue teams are ready to help those affected by flooding.
The RNLI is a charity and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its lifesaving services.
RNLI crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives since 1824. But as well as rescuing people, the RNLI saves lives by influencing, supervising and educating people too. The Charity works internationally with like-minded organisations to help tackle drowning around the world.
For more information, visit rnli.org.uk.
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, Twitter 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.