Wha¯nau turn nippers into safe dippers
Vital water skills learned at Wai Splash
On Saturday, November 19, Wai Splash Pool hosted the SplashSave programme, attended by 26 families who had registered online. SplashSave is a social enterprise with a mission to provide every child with the opportunity to learn to swim.
On Saturday it provided free, fun swim-teaching materials to parents and caregivers of children aged up to 5, so they could enjoy the fun and rewarding experience of teaching their wha¯nau to swim.
The SplashSave programme covers everything from baby’s first bath, all pre-school swim skills, right through to water safety at beaches, rivers and on boats.
Normally the SplashSave programme costs to enrol but the organisation pledges that when you buy or gift a SplashSave, 20 per cent of proceeds go to community projects.
So far the SplashSave foundation has raised $200,000 to provide lifesaving water safety and swimming skills to communities that needed it most.
It says it needs help to continue to provide this lifesaving skill for free.
Already $80,000 of funding has been provided by Tu¯ Manawa to provide the SplashSave programme for free in Wellington and Manawatu¯.
Additionally $30,000 has been raised to work with Plunket Nursing Association to distribute packs to families in areas where higher drowning rates occur in New Zealand and $20,000 has been raised to translate the pack into Te Reo Ma¯ori.
Leah Sole, team leader for Sport Manawatu¯, seized the opportunity to have this programme delivered free to Wai Splash on Saturday and was thrilled so many families enrolled.
She says it is vital for young children to learn water-safety skills, and the special kit that comes with the programme provides all that parents need to know to teach them.
A 70-page book with over three years-worth of fun teaching materials in an easy to understand format.
5 x waterproof lessons full of fun games that can be used in the pool.
5 x Fun certificates to celebrate your child’s achievements along the way
For more information contact
Wai Splash is celebrating its 25-year birthday celebration with a fun-filled day for everyone on December 3, from noon until 4pm. The $2 entry includes pool entry and inflatable toy.