Mykolai becomes Lifeguard thanks to RLSS UK funding

RLSS UK provided funding for Mykolai Skydan, 17, who is originally from Ukraine, to complete his qualification to become a lifeguard.

Mykolai was living with his host family when he moved from Ukraine to the UK in May and his host family’s son was about to begin his National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) and Mykolai thought it would be a great qualification to have too. After approaching RLSS UK which offers the NPLQ programme, the charity agreed to fund Mykolai’s place on the course to give him the opportunity to learn new skills which could open up doors to employment.

Mykolai soon began his training and said “The most interesting part of the training definitely was teamwork. I felt like part of a good team.”

After assessments as part of the course, Mykolai passed his NPLQ, meaning he was qualified to work as a lifeguard, he said “When I qualified I was really happy, because it wasn’t easy for me, and I didn’t want to waste my chance that my hosts and RLSS UK gave me.”

Just two weeks after completing the qualification, Mykolai gained employment as a lifeguard, he said, “I got a job two weeks after finishing the course and I’m really happy about it.”

Mykolai now works each weekend at Ridgeway Leisure Centre in Swindon as a lifeguard whilst studying Digital Production at New College Swindon.