We are delighted to confirm that all competitors at this year’s British Life Saving Sport Surf Championships will be provided with a specially designed safety rash vest. As an organisation that aims to make people fitter and safer by the sea, the safety of competitors is of paramount importance. This new move is in line with International Life Saving guidelines, following the tragic death of a 14 year old at the Australian Nationals earlier this year.
To ensure safety of all competitors, these rash vests are obligatory in all races. To read more go to the SLSGB website…
Tag Archives: SLS GB
A fun day had by all at the first ‘Big Bay Dip’
The Surf Life Saving GB event ‘Big Bay Dip’ charity swim open water swim event was at Broadsands in Paignton, on Sunday 29th July, in which 65 swimmers took part. The inaugural Big Bay Dip gave inexperienced swimmers as well as those who enjoy open water swimming regularly, a chance to take part in a unique event for charity. Read more on the SLGB website…
SLSGB awarded Sport England funding
SLSGB have received a grant of £39,000 from Sport England to put towards their Life Saving Sport Education Development Project.
The award will be used to encourage more people of all ages to participate more often in SLSGB’s multiple surf life saving sport activities, improving sporting competence, increasing satisfaction with sporting experience and maintaining a long term interest in life saving sport.
The funding SLSGB has received will help enhance SLSGB lifesaver pathways as well as create a clear path of progression for members to achieve. Read more on the SLGB website…
New research reveals one in three children leave primary school unable to swim
Learning to swim at an early age can ultimately go on to save a child’s life and with drowning being the third most common cause of accidental death in children, it’s concerning to learn that one in three children are now leaving school unable to swim.
The startling new research carried out by Kellogg’s and the ASA has revealed that around 200,000 children will leave primary school this summer unable to swim, amounting to an astonishing 2million non-swimmers over the next ten years.
Of those children unable to swim, nearly 40% have never been offered school swimming lessons despite it being a statutory element of the National Curriculum.
In response to the findings the ASA and Kellogg’s are today (Thursday 17 May) meeting with the government to urge parliamentarians, policy makers, local authorities and relevant organisations to prioritise the only sport that saves lives so every child has the opportunity to learn to swim irrespective of socio-economic and ethnic background.
The research also highlighted the role of parents in helping their children learn to swim and discovered that without school swimming many children would miss out completely on the chance to learn as one in six parents admits they never take their child swimming.
Other NWSF members were also involved with the event at the launch of the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) school swimming strategy, a private event held at Westminster Hall. Representatives from RoSPA, Surf Life Saving GB and The Royal Life Saving Society UK were all at the event. Read more on the swimming.org website…
SLSGB supports ASA swim strategy to improve children’s swimming
SLSGB Chief Executive Esther Pearson today (17 May) represented SLSGB at the launch of the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) school swimming strategy, a private event held at Westminster Hall.
It was announced today that a third of all children leaving primary school are unable to swim 25m unaided, putting children’s lives at risk. Water Accident and Incident Database (WAID) data suggests that drowning is the third most common form of accidental death in children in the UK, and 57 of the 400 drownings each year being children. Many argue that if they were able to swim that statistic would be lot lower.
The ASA today launched a new swim strategy, focused on encouraging schools and local authorities to deliver swimming. Esther Pearson said:
“SLSGB is right behind the campaign promoting swimming and tackling this shocking issue, but we believe that there is a lack of facilities and it’s often expensive to swim and have lessons in leisure centres. Getting water confidence is about getting to know your environment as well as being able to swim, which is why our Nippers programmes are so important for children.” Read more on the SLSGB website…
SLS GB Launch Event Water Safety guidance
Last week (26 April), SLS GB in partnership with RoSPA and with the support of SLS GB insurer Sportscover, launched a new national guidance document on the management of event water safety.
The guidance document, a product of extensive research thanks to the support of Sportscover and Derby University was launched at the RoSPA National Water Safety Conference to an audience of more than 100 experts for further consultation.
With the recent rise in mass participation and charity events there has been much demand on the expertise of SLSGB’s clubs to provide support to these events in the form of safety cover. However, in the absence of national guidance on hazard identification, risk management, competencies and equipment, SLSGB members often found themselves working under varying standards of event management. A draft copy of the guidance will be available shortly for you to provide your feedback to the consultation. Read more on the Surf Life Saving GB website…
National Water Safety 