Aquatics Aberdeen, facilitated by registered charity Sport Aberdeen, delivered lessons to over 4,000 children last week in line with a national campaign which aims to reduce the number of drowning and non-drowning incidents which occur in the UK every year.

Lessons under the National Learn to Swim Framework were specially adapted to include key water safety guidance as part of the Royal Life Saving Society UK’s Drowning Prevention Week which ran from 14th-24th June and saw thousands of young swimmers across Aberdeen learn self-rescue and life-saving skills in the largest coordinated water safety lesson ever seen in Scotland.

The campaign, created by the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) aims to reduce the number of drowning and non-fatal drowning incidences that occur in the UK every year, by showing people how to be safe and have fun near water.

The campaign encourages schools, clubs, leisure centres and communities, to promote water safety education through events, lessons, games and activities, in a bid to make people more aware of the dangers of water.

Scottish Swimming and Scottish Water – who are partners in Learn to Swim – joined with the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), Leisure Trusts and Aquatic providers to deliver the exclusive lessons just before the summer holidays.

Dianne Breen, Sport Aberdeen Aquatics Manager, said:

“Aquatics Aberdeen have delivered bespoke Drowning Prevention Week swimming lessons for the past five years in conjunction with RLSS and are we were delighted to be involved in this nationwide campaign alongside Scottish Swimming and partners.”

Sharon MacDonald, Director of Development at Scottish Swimming, said:

“Swimming is an essential life skill which helps children to be safer in and around water. Ahead of the summer holidays we want children to have fun and enjoy swimming but to also have the knowledge on how to look after themselves and others.”

The Learn to Swim Framework aims to teach over 100,000 kids to be confident, safe and competent swimmers by 2020.

For more information or to apply to our Learn to Swim Programme, please click here.