70,000 children offered swimming safety lessons

A LIFESAVING safety campaign is planned this summer with swimming lessons for children. Around 70,000 children will be offered water safety tuition during Drowning Prevention Week organised by the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) between 18 and 25 July as part of the Learn to Swim programme – a partnership between Scottish Water and Scottish Swimming’s in almost 40 areas in Scotland.

Coming after lessons were interrupted for almost two years, it reflects an urgent ongoing commitment to help children to become confident and competent swimmers while improving water safety for a new generation of swimmers.

Brian Lironi, Director of Corporate Affairs with Scottish Water, said: “Given the disruption suffered to the provision of traditional lessons during the pandemic, it really is such a vital opportunity to develop generations of confident, safer, competent children and ensure they do not miss out on such an important life skill.

“With the lifting of lockdown and other challenges facing households, it is likely many people will choose to staycation here in Scotland again this year, complete with the attraction of swimming at beauty spots and popular locations.

“By improving water safety and working with coaches across the country, our partnership with Scottish Swimming really can make a life changing difference for so many.”

The RLSS’s Drowning Prevention Week is one of the largest water safety campaigns to equip people with skills and knowledge to make the right decisions about water safety.