Swim Safe, a joint project between the ASA and the RNLI that aims to provide practical open water safety sessions for 7-14 year olds is to take place in Poole this summer. Hosted by Poole Borough Council, the event will be held at Sandbanks as well as the Council’s facility at Shore Road.
The annual programme offers improver swimming tuition and water safety sessions at beaches and lakes across England with a focus on skills to keep safe in open water. Beach safety advice will be provided by RNLI lifeguards with up to 30 minutes of in-water tuition provided by ASA accredited swimming teachers.
Two weeks of Swim Safe for Schools will run from 4 July, followed by three weeks of public access to the project from 30 July. Children must be able to swim a minimum of 25 metres to take part but attendance is free. Further information and booking form can be found at https://swimsafe.rnli.org/.
There are also volunteer and teaching opportunities for members of Dorset affiliated clubs, so if you would be interested in helping out contact the ASASW Area Swim Manager Ashley Jones at ashley.jones@swimming.org.
The Swim Safe pilot scheme was so successful that in 2015 the programme was extended to six locations in Bournemouth, Brockhole, Bude, South Shields, Jersey and the Isle of Man, which were attended by 3,600 children with an average of ten at each session across the five weeks. Having Swim Safe held locally is a good opportunity for clubs to get involved and encourage participants to carry on from their first open water swimming experience.