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A lifeguard stands in front of a crowd of school children giving a presentation on water safety. He is wearing a red lifeguard fleece, yellow polo, and red shorts. On either side of him are sea safety pull-up banners.

RNLI water safety programmes

See our range of outreach workshops and sessions available to educate and inform young people about how to be safe – in, on or around the water. Contact our team today to learn more about our water safety programmes, organise a visit or event attendance from the RNLI, or arrange a trip to one of our museums.

5-7 years old Skip to Lower Primary

7-11 years old Skip to Upper Primary

11-14 years old Skip to Lower Secondary

14-18 years old Skip to Upper Secondary

Museum visits All age groups Skip to museum visits

Event visits all age groups Skip to events

An RNLI water safety presenter is helping a group of infant school children with their 'spot the danger' activity sheets.

Nathan Williams

Why do we need water safety programmes?

Children and young adults are one of the groups of people most vulnerable to drowning. To help tackle this, the RNLI have developed water safety programmes to help educate young people about how they can have fun and stay safe in and around the water.

Our activities have been developed to be adaptable for a range of abilities, age groups and audiences. Please let us know if your group have any specific requirements, support or additional learning needs in the booking form.

Find out more about the different programmes available below and discover how you can book or learn more about a water safety session.

The RNLI saves lives at sea. But beyond the work we do on our lifeboats and beaches, we’re an active part of the community too. We’re here to help you with everything you need to teach the young people in your classroom or group how to stay safe in, on and around the water. As a lifesaving charity, we believe in prioritising the safety and welfare of our people. And sometimes this means we need to do more to protect the most vulnerable in our society.

Learn more and access our Safeguarding Policy.

Lower Primary

  • A young child is laughing while trying on crew kit, with an RNLI water safety presenter helping them put on a white helmet.
    RNLI Water Safety Workshop (5-7 year olds)
    Our workshops are delivered by volunteers and cover the fundamentals of the Water Safety Code. Each session ensures children begin to learn how to be safe in or around water when with an adult.
    Book a volunteer-led workshop

Upper Primary

  • A water safety volunteer is talking through a 'spot the dangers' poster with a schoolchild, pointing at the illustrations.
    RNLI Water Safety Workshop (7-11 year olds)
    Our volunteer-led workshops introduce children to the Water Safety Code, teaching them how to spot a wider range of dangers, plan for a day out with their family, and what to do in an emergency situation when in, on or around the water.
    Book a volunteer-led workshop
  • A female RNLI lifeguard wearing red lifeguard jacket, yellow polo shirt and red shorts stands in an assembly hall chatting with a group of five students from a mix of different backgrounds
    Water Smart Session (7-11 year olds)
    Sessions are delivered by small teams of RNLI lifeguards, in the spring and summer term, and are designed to introduce the Water Safety Code to primary-aged pupils. After each session, children will be able to identify hazards and know what to do if they or someone else gets in trouble in the water.
    Learn more about the Water Smart programme
  • Swim Safe programme taking place at Spring Lakes, Long Eaton.
    Swim Safe (7-11 year olds)

    Delivered by a range of local partners, Swim Safe sessions take place at beaches, lakes and pools across the UK, helping to teach children how to stay safe in the water. Through fun games and activities, children learn how to stay safe and what they need to do in an emergency.

    Find a Swim Safe session near you

Lower Secondary

  • Schoolchildren are looking at a 'spot the dangers at the river' activity, pointing to a hazard in the water.
    RNLI Water Safety Workshop (11-14 year olds)
    Our volunteer-led workshops are designed to develop students' understanding of the Water Safety Code through a combination of interactive workshop and hands-on activities. At the end of each workshop, students will have developed their understanding of how to keep themselves and others safe when in, on, or around water.
    Book a volunteer-led workshop
  • Two male lifeguards in red lifeguard fleeces and shorts pose for a photo at a Meet the Lifeguards session. On either side of them are pull-up banners with sea safety messaging written upon them.
    Water Smart Session (11-14 year olds)
    Delivered by small teams of RNLI Lifeguards, in the spring and summer term, your students will develop their understanding of the Water Safety Code as they gain greater independence, learning how to identify hazards, such as cold water shock, and what actions to take in an emergency when in, on and around water.
    Learn more about the Water Smart programme
  • A group of girls in bright green Swim Safe buoyancy aids stand in the sea during a Swim Safe session. Two instructors in black buoyancy aids stand nearby.
    Swim Safe (11-14 year olds)
    Delivered by a range of local partners, Swim Safe sessions take place at beaches, lakes and pools across the UK, helping to teach children how to stay safe in the water. Through fun games and activities, children learn how to stay safe and what they need to do in an emergency.
    Find a Swim Safe session near you
  • Three girls in school uniform stand next to a display of RNLI lifeboat engineering with various knobs gears and dials as an instructor explains how it works
    Women in Engineering
    Every year, the RNLI invites young women to the RNLI College in Poole where they can learn more about the opportunities and roles available for women within the engineering sector. Through hands-on sessions and talks, it's an inspiring day for any young woman hoping to develop a career in engineering.
    Find out about Women in Engineering

Upper Secondary

  • A water safety volunteer is standing at the front of the classroom, showing the students a Float to Live video. She has her arms raised in the air, showing them how to float.
    RNLI Water Safety Workshop (14-18 year olds)
    Our volunteer-led workshops are designed to engage learners with vital decision making and risk management skills at an age where they are at an increased risk in, on and around water. Each session provides practical, tailored advice to ensure your students know how to keep themselves and others safe, as they encounter an increasing range of water-based locations.
    Book a volunteer-led workshop
  • A young black man attentively watches an RNLI training session in a classroom at the University of Portsmouth.
    RNLI Young Adults Programme
    Organise a free 1-day course for 16-25-year-old students. Each course helps develop water safety awareness, as well as other transferrable skills. Ideal for those preparing to leave education and go to work.
    Learn more about the Young Adults Programme
  • Three girls in school uniform stand next to a display of RNLI lifeboat engineering with various knobs gears and dials as an instructor explains how it works
    Women in Engineering
    Every year, the RNLI invites young women to the RNLI College in Poole where they can learn more about the opportunities and roles available for women within the engineering sector. Through hands-on sessions and talks, it's an inspiring day for any young woman hoping to develop a career in engineering.
    Find out about Women in Engineering

Museum visits

  • A young girl dresses up in a Second World War era lifejacket and yellow sou'wester hat inside the Stories of Courage exhibition
    Museum visits
    We have a number of museums for you to visit around the UK and these can help bring alive the RNLI's long and exciting history to your school or youth group.
    Find a museum

Invite us to your event

  • An RNLI volunteer stands behind a stall at an event outside a lifeboat station. Safety and engagement materials are displayed on the floor and on stands around her.
    Event visits
    Our volunteers can attend a variety of events where they'll deliver RNLI-themed activities. You can also invite us to attend lifeskill or crucial crew schemes to support water safety messaging to young people.
    Send us an invitation

Contact us today to arrange your visit

Get in touch with our team today to start planning your water safety educational visit with the RNLI
Arrange your visit

More free education resources

Teaching pack.
Education resources
Use our free, downloadable lesson plans, activities and resources to teach young people how to be safe in, on and around the water, and what to do if anything goes wrong.
Take a look
Man struggling to stay afloat in the water
Safety
Learn how you can keep you and your loved ones safe at the coast and in the water with advice from the RNLI’s water safety experts.
Think safety
An RNLI water safety volunteer talks through some safety tips as he stands next to a pull-up board with Float to Live advice written on it
Multi-lingual resources
Language shouldn’t be a barrier to getting our safety messages out to the diverse communities across the UK and Ireland. Here are some translated safety resources, to reach as many people as we can in our mission to save lives at sea.
View Translated Resources