Swim England

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Volunteers are the soul of Swim Safe

Swim England News

Swim Safe is a great example of volunteers making a difference, giving up time to make sure children are safe near waterside locations.

Each year, children from across the country head to coastal or lakeside locations with their families.

Children love to swim, whether that be in a pool, in the sea or in a lake or river. But swimming outside is very different to swimming in a pool.

Swim England and the RNLI launched Swim Safe four years ago. The aim was to teach children aged 7-14 how to be safe in and around water.

The programme provides the perfect mix of practical and theory, keeping young children engaged and teaching them lifesaving information.

Swim Safe could not happen without volunteers

The programme is dependent on volunteers. They are the only way in which the programme can be delivered and promoted effectively.

In 2015 and 2016, more than 130 volunteers supported Swim Safe across multiple sites. As the programme grows, so does the number of volunteers needed to run it.

Ashley Jones, Swim Safe Delivery Manager, said: “Swim Safe is a programme that relies on volunteers. We are incredibly lucky that many return each year to offer their time.

“Thanks to these people and many new recruits, more than 18,000 young people have taken part in a Swim Safe session and learnt how to be safe in the water outdoors.

“The role of a Swim Safe volunteer is not always glamorous, especially when it involves cleaning wetsuits and working outdoors in all weather.

“But the programme simply couldn’t run without them and we hope each volunteer goes away enjoying the experience of being part of such a great project. As Swim Safe expands we look forward to welcoming more volunteers to the programme.”

Swim Safe is a great project to volunteer in. It builds many skills which are important for many different job roles; leadership, planning skills, promotional skills, administration skills, the ability to build a rapport with members of the public and many more.

Our Swim Safe volunteers are enthusiastic individuals with a passion for helping children learn to swim.

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