President ’s Message
This is my last column as President, and I am delighted to share and comment on our impact report for 2024 which shows the fantastic work and commitment of our volunteers, members and staff in ensuring our water safety message is spread far and wide.
The Board of Trustees spent the year ensuring that the charity was financially stable, embracing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and strengthening the Board with newly appointed Trustees and recruitment of a new CEO.
The charity has worked hard to strengthen our Clubs and Branches ensuring that they have the support and training required. The Save a Life series continues to grow, and the testaments received from the community are wonderful. The courses would not happen without the volunteer trainers, they are truly outstanding.
Our Commercial members continue to deliver high quality qualifications across the industry. Their continued dedication to the charity and our important message is outstanding. Thank you.
Our media presence continues to grow, and we need to embrace new ways to deliver our messages. The interim Charity Director has worked hard with our new media partners and the results and feedback have been fantastic.
We continue to work with other Commonwealth members to deliver water safety messages across the world.
I would like to add a personal thanks to all the Branches, Clubs and members that I have met over the past year. Your continued dedication to the charity is remarkable and none of this would be possible without you.
Our charity work is funded through our commercial and charitable activities, with fundraising and donations from our members, volunteers and supporters. All profits from RLSS UK Enterprises Limited, including our shop, training, consultancy, awards, and qualifications, are distributed to the charity. These funding sources allow RLSS UK to continue its charitable work for the UK and Irish communities.
Deborah Hunt
President RLSS UK and Ireland
Chief Executive A message from our
Having joined the charity in January 2025, it is truly inspiring to see the hard work being undertaken across the organisation to ensure everyone has access to water safety education, regardless of their background. The achievements included within this Impact Report are a testament to the commitment of our volunteers, staff, trustees, and members to advocate for and promote water safety in our communities.
Thank you to the many volunteers and members who have supported our charity during 2024. These amazing people include club volunteers Andy Greggs and Stephen Grant, who have shared the fantastic work they do, developing young lifesavers in our affiliated clubs, Tasha McLoughlin in her role as a volunteer and RLSS UK advocate, as well as Daniel Owens, RLSS UK fundraiser. I would also like to say thank you to brave mums Ness Abbess and Stephanie Williams who lost their children, Joe and Sunnah, to drowning. They bravely told their stories to raise awareness of the importance of water safety. This moving tribute played a critical part in our Drowning Prevention Week (DPW) campaign, which also saw an estimated 1.25m+ children educated in water safety.
In 2024, I’m proud that our team awarded over 43,000 lifeguard qualifications, to pool, beach and open water lifeguards, with each candidate playing a critical role in keeping members of the public safe. In addition, we awarded more than 45,000 first aid qualifications and bolt-ons, seeing more individuals gain the skills to save a life.
Over 46,000 Rookie Lifeguard awards were presented in communities throughout the UK and Ireland, reflecting the fantastic work that our lifesaving instructors do to support the next generation of lifesavers.
Our strategic partnership with the National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) has allowed us to unveil new insights into child drowning and take action to prevent future loss of life, for example through our new ‘Splash Safety at your Pad’ campaign, which saw us provide targeted water safety resources for health visitors.
I’m delighted to see our growing lifesaving community, which reached 15,382 RLSS UK members by December 2024. I’d also like to thank our incredible volunteers, who this year registered over 8,600 voluntary hours through our William Henry Award scheme and of course the 336 members who received an Honour in 2024 for long voluntary service or voluntary work of merit.
As for 2025, our work remains more important than ever. I’m excited to work across the society and with our partner organisations to strive towards our vision to enable everyone to enjoy water safely. Thank you to all our members, volunteers and supporters for your role in our successes during the year and to the RLSS UK team for all your dedication and commitment to supporting people to enjoy water safely.
Simmy Akhtar
RLSS UK CEO
2024 in numbers
15,382 RLSS UK members registered, representing our growing lifesaving community, and supporting our lifesaving work.
46,005 Rookie Lifeguard awards presented, celebrating important milestones in children’s lifesaving ability.
49,566 online training sessions completed by lifesavers and lifeguards keeping up to date with their training and continued professional development.
262 schools signed up to deliver our Water Smart Schools programme, equipping pupils with classroom-based vital water safety knowledge.
85 lifesaving qualifications and awards on offer, ensuring everyone has the chance to continually enhance their water safety knowledge and skills.
278 RLSS UK affiliated clubs active across local communities, delivering lifesaving activities, growing water safety knowledge for thousands of young lifesavers.
8,672 volunteering hours registered by our passionate community of lifesavers and educators, recognising our work in communities.
336 members were recognised via our Honours programme, celebrating their outstanding contributions to the society’s work.
Why our
charity is important
In
the past five years, over 1,700 people have accidentally lost their lives to drowning in the UK and Ireland.1
At the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), we believe that no one should drown. It is our vision to eliminate accidental drowning so that everyone can enjoy being in, on or around water safely.
As the leading provider of lifeguarding qualifications and lifesaving awards in the UK and Ireland, we equip individuals with the knowledge and expertise to prevent drowning incidents and save lives.
In local communities, our free educational materials and resources help teach children vital water safety skills, whilst our Water Smart Schools programme offers schools the opportunity to participate in classroom-based water safety lessons. Our network of RLSS UK affiliated clubs work tirelessly, equipping young lifesavers with the knowledge of how to stay safe in, on and around water.
Our work is more important than ever
Fewer swimming pools in operation
Since 2019, the total number of sites operating swimming pools in the UK has fallen by 8.7%2.This equates to the loss of 274 venues, reducing safe public access to warm, indoor, lifeguarded water spaces.
More people swimming outdoors
4.3 million people participated in outdoor swimming in 2022-233, and the mental and physical benefits are now widely recognised. Open water bodies like lakes and rivers can, however, pose significant hazards, such as strong currents, underwater obstacles, and
cold-water temperatures. These potential dangers emphasise the importance of the open water swimming community having access to expert water safety advice to stay safe. For those seeking to swim outdoors more occasionally, there are currently a limited number of lifeguarded open water venues offering safe spaces to enjoy the benefits of open water swimming.
Fewer children reaching statutory swimming and water safety outcomes
In England, the Government set statutory outcomes for swimming and water safety that all children are expected to achieve by the end of Key Stage 2 (KS2). However, data from Sport England Active Lives Survey showed the 70.2% of Year 7 children reaching these statutory outcomes in 2023-24 remains significantly behind the 76.8% who did so in 2017-184. Their data also shows that children from ethnic minority groups and those from families on the lowest incomes are most impacted5
More children are losing their lives to drowning
In summer 2024, RLSS UK reported that child drowning deaths in England had doubled from 20 in 2019-20 to 41 in 2022-236. It was also evident that children were not only losing their lives to drowning in open water, but also at home. For RLSS UK, this reinforces the critical importance of water safety knowledge, not only for those actively choosing to take part in water related activities, but also in everyday life at home.
Whether choosing to enjoy water for leisure or just going about your day-to-day life, knowing how to keep you and your family safe in, on and around water is vital. At RLSS UK, we remain focused on ensuring that everyone, no matter their background, has access to high quality water safety education to ensure their safety, as well as working towards our vision of eliminating drowning and allowing everyone to enjoy water safely.
Our Impact
In 2024, we awarded
160,000+ lifesaving qualifications and awards, which included our industry-leading National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ).
In addition, our work sees vital water safety education delivered across the UK and Ireland.
Our work in 2024 impacted across all four UK nations and in Ireland.
We supported the availability of safe places to swim and play in the water, ensuring competent lifeguard provision at both indoor and outdoor venues.
We worked passionately to ensure vital water safety education was delivered to children and young people in home, educational and leisure settings.
1.48m
An estimated children were educated in water safety using our free, downloadable materials and resources, thanks to support from educators and our community networks.
6,950
In our RLSS UK affiliated clubs, more than children developed their lifesaving skills, building confidence and making friends.
Areas where RLSS UK has been active in 2024
Our Approach
Our impact is driven by our desire to ensure our lifesaving education and training are accessible to everyone, no matter their background.
The RLSS UK pathway brings to life the wealth of opportunities offered through an individual’s involvement with RLSS UK. Following an initial interaction with our organisation, we want people to stay with us, grow their lifesaving knowledge and skills, and help save lives.
I believe in what RLSS UK does and represents. The opportunities they give to young people to achieve life-changing challenges- from being Rookie Lifeguards who then go on to be lifeguards – and even on to teach and save more lives.
RLSS UK Member
The breadth of opportunities with RLSS UK is observed across age ranges and experience. There is something for everyone.
Our Rookie Lifeguard award programme is designed for children as young as eight years old and being an RLSS UK accredited Trainer Assessor can offer long-term career prospects.
The best thing about being a part of my RLSS UK club is gaining life skills and awards which will help me when I’m older to do the full lifeguard course.
RLSS UK Affliated Club Member, aged 14 years
Working as a Trainer Assessor is a good role with plenty of flexibility and opportunities.
RLSS UK Trainer Assessor
Our members, on average, have spent seven years committed to our purpose, demonstrating the passion RLSS UK lifesavers have for ensuring everyone can enjoy water safely.
RLSS UK Pathway
I feel part of RLSS UK through the community work and the opportunities, as well as the support.
RLSS UK Member
SPOTLIGHT ON...
GRAVESHAM LIFESAVING CLUB
I, alongside fellow member Andy Fooks (Club Admin), are part of Gravesham Life Saving Club, which has been operating in North Kent for over 45 years, forming in 1977. All our instructors are volunteers, who are qualified to RLSS UK standards and hold appropriate teaching/assessing qualifications.
Our club currently runs Saturday afternoon sessions (14:00-15.30) and Sunday evenings (16.30-18.30) at Cygnet Leisure Centre. During the summer, we offer beach sessions at Sheerness, on one of the Isle of Sheppey’s main beaches or a local inland lake.
We deliver a range of programmes from Rookie Lifeguard, to Lifesaving Sport and the National Lifesaving Academy. Our courses not only teach crucial lifesaving and survival techniques, but also boost fitness and enhance swimming skills.
The club has around 30 members across a wide variety of ages - families are welcome to join, so all the family can keep fit and learn vital lifesaving skills!
In the wider community, Gravesham Life Saving Club provides training CPR training for the general public, including RLSS UK Save a Life Series. We are currently involved with two local projects to provide Public Access Defibrillators, and train people in basic life support and the AED use.
We have just been awarded the Clive Holland Trophy which is an RLSS UK National award for ‘carrying out the society objectives in their area’.
Emma, one of our younger members has also been awarded the National Young Leaders Trophy for ‘services to the Community Life Support programme’.
One of our biggest achievements of 2024, was a project which started back in 2020, and has now progressed to our third AED being installed in the local area. All three AEDs have been activated on 999 calls, totalling 21 occasions, thankfully only once were pads applied to the patient, but no shock was required. As a lifesaving club, we train club members and members of the public in CPR and AED use.
In Gravesend Town Centre, we started working with The Grand, a local youth group. This project was part funded by London Hearts charity and Kent County Council.
Andy Greggs Chair of Gravesham Life Saving Club
SPOTLIGHT ON...
PENDLE LIFESAVING CLUB
I have been involved in lifesaving in Pendle for the last 15 years, starting my career as a lifeguard at West Craven Sports Centre, Barnoldswick, where I quickly developed into a swimming teacher.
I’ve always wanted to progress and develop my skills and teach. In 2015, I became an RLSS UK Trainer Assessor and worked with Pendle Leisure Trust to develop its internal staff training sessions and train new staff to achieve their National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ).
These days, I work full time as a Health & Safety Advisor for Pendle Leisure Trust. Alongside this, I am now teaching the young people that I taught to swim in their lifeguard training. These qualified instructors are now supporting me in developing our new club, that we set up in August 2024 - ‘Pendle Lifesaving Club’.
Our new club meets once a week and we deliver a variety of RLSS UK qualifications and awards, including Rookie Lifeguard, National Lifesaving Academy, Save a Life series, Lifesaving Sport and NPLQ.
Since 2024, our club has trained over 100 people onto a Rookie Lifeguard programme, and over 50 onto the National Lifesaving Academy, through a variety of awards.
Lifesaving isn’t just important in the obvious way of interventions and preventing drowning, it’s also a fun and social event each week that teaches children valuable life skills.
This amazing new club will continue to develop into 2025 as we have support from RLSS UK to upskill current lifeguards to expand the club’s programmes and deliver a pathway for all ages.
Stephen Grant Pendle Lifesaving Club
Education, training
and personal development
RLSS UK remains the leading provider of training in lifesaving and lifeguarding in the UK and Ireland, awarding 160,000+ qualifications and awards in 2024.
We qualified 40,305 lifeguards with our National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ), the UK and Ireland’s leading lifeguard qualification. This award ensures lifeguards have the best possible knowledge and skills to help members of the public stay safe in a pool environment.
In addition, a further 1,254 National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualifications (NVBLQ) and 1,446 Open Water Lifeguard (OWL) qualifications were awarded in 2024. These bespoke qualifications ensure candidates have the right knowledge and skills to keep people safe on beaches and increasingly popular open water spaces, such as lakes and aqua parks.
Our Objective
To excel in the development of internationally recognised, creative education and training opportunities that enhance everyone’s ability to save lives, develop opportunities to embrace diversity, inclusivity and well-being, and provide affordable access for everyone, to help unlock their potential.
RLSS UK selected as ukactive’s Education Provider of the Year Award Winner 2024 for our National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) Gen 10.
The Education Provider of the Year Award recognises an organisation or programme that delivers excellent services, demonstrates innovative resources and assessments, and enables learners to obtain highquality skills valued by employers.
The 2024 winners were announced during a night of celebrations in Birmingham that showcased the sector’s progress and growth.
The best of the best were recognised at the industry’s most prestigious awards, with more than 800 people joining the ceremony at the ICC in Birmingham.
The lifeguarding qualification is really important to me, as it keeps me and others safe in the water. It also helps me with all the knowledge on what to do for CPR, strokes, heart attacks and just generally know what to do to help save someone.
NPLQ holder
The Awards were hosted by Professor Greg Whyte OBE, and comedian, Esther Manito, who ran through the fantastic range of operators, suppliers and individuals shortlisted across 16 categories. This year’s ukactive Awards saw nominations from across the breadth of the sector, with the judges praising the high quality and excellent achievements demonstrated by all the finalists.
RLSS UK was selected as the winner of the Education Provider of the Year award due to how it revolutionised pool lifeguarding and improved swimming pool safety for operators by launching the Level 3 Award in Pool Lifeguarding - more commonly known as the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) Gen 10 in July 2023.
In 2024, more than 6,500 RLSS UK members benefited from our online learning continuing professional development (CPD) sessions, keeping our Instructors, Trainer Assessors and Lifeguards up to date with the latest technical skills and developments.
SPOTLIGHT ON...
WATER SMART SCHOOLS
The first full year of our Water Smart Schools Accreditation saw 8,000+ children complete the programme.
At RLSS UK, we believe that every young person should have access to water safety skills that can be used throughout their life. This knowledge will help keep them safe in and around the water and enrich their opportunities to engage in water-related activities and play.
Aimed at being inclusive to children of all backgrounds, our Water Smart Schools (WSS) is a flexible and adaptable award scheme that can be applied to any learned environment with agility and ease, including primary, secondary and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) settings.
The first full year of the programme saw 262 schools register to take part from across the UK. Many of those taking part chose to align their engagement with RLSS UK’s annual flagship campaign, Drowning Prevention Week, thereby maximising water safety knowledge and understanding in a holistic and intensive way.
Developing partnerships with external agencies has seen the WSS programme reach an increasing number of schools across the UK, with Tyne and Wear and North Wales Fire and Rescue Services both actively promoting the award to their network of contacts. In addition, Everton Football Club is in the process of using WSS materials to deliver water safety education to their network of schools, encouraging them to sign up to complete the rest of the programme and gain an award.
As we are a school by the sea, we are so pleased to have a strong partnership with the Royal Life Saving Society UK.
As part of our work as a school to enrich pupils’ personal development, we have commitment to providing safety education to our pupils to help them and their families understand more about how to stay safe by the water and know what to do in an emergency.
Oakfield Primary School, Ryde, Isle of Wight
RLSS UK named as ‘Educational
Resource Provider of the Year’ at the Education Awards for our Water Smart Schools programme.
July 2024 saw the Water Smart Schools programme selected as ‘Educational Resource Provider of the Year’ at the Education Awards - Midlands, reflecting the RLSS UK’s exceptional dedication and commitment to shaping the future of children’s access to water safety education.
The Education Awards recognises individuals, organisations, institutions, or initiatives for their outstanding contributions, achievements, or advancements in the field of education. The awards aim to celebrate and acknowledge the exceptional efforts and impact made in various areas of education, such as teaching, research, innovation, leadership, advocacy, community engagement, and more.
“We’re over the moon and are especially excited that we’ve been recognised for our dedication, commitment and time that has been invested into our Water Smart Schools programme, which we successfully launched in September 2023 and have had over 200 schools sign up since.
“We believe that every child should have access to water safety education – and with our Water Smart Schools initiative, we are one step closer to achieving this!”
Andy Lane, RLSS UK Education Manager
SCAN HERE
to find out more:
RLSS UK campaigning sees classroom-based water safety lessons included in draft RHSE guidance for England for the first time.
RLSS UK has lobbied for classroom-based water safety education to be included in the National Curriculum for several years. We used data and insights collated through our partnerships, coupled with our own expert knowledge on water safety to submit strong evidence for the inclusion of water safety education in the classroom. In May 2024, a draft Relationships, Sex Education and Health (RHSE) curriculum was released for consultation, which, for the first time, included the Water Safety Code. RLSS UK subsequently submitted further evidence in support of its confirmed inclusion and eagerly awaits the outcomes of the review, due in October 2025.
We are proud to offer a range of
lifesaving awards for
children starting their lifesaving journey.
This includes our Rookie Lifeguard programme, progressing to our National Lifesaving Academy (NLA) scheme.
46,000+ Rookie Lifeguard awards were presented during the year, marking the start of a lifesaving journey for thousands in our RLSS UK affiliated clubs.
Rookie Lifeguards learn basic rescue and lifesaving skills, equipping them with the essential knowledge to recognise hazards, respond effectively in emergency situations, and stay safe in, on and around water.
Rookie is well structured, fun to deliver and for all to take part! Seeing the young kids develop in confidence is very rewarding for us as an ATC and the kids themselves, they can see their experience growing.
Lifesaving Instructor
It is good fun. I’ve made some new friends and learnt lots of new things about how to stay safe in the water and how to help other people.
Rookie Lifeguard
The roll-out of the National Lifesaving Academy (NLA) programme continued, with 1,881 sign-ups, more than double the number in 2023.
The aim of the programme is to teach candidates aged 12 years and over how to stay safe in and around water, as well as how to safely assist others who may have gotten into difficulty in both aquatic and non-aquatic situations.
The programme is aligned to our NPLQ, so candidates can start practicing the skills required to become a lifeguard ahead of completing future lifeguarding qualifications.
During the year, NLA awards were issued across pool, beach, and open water settings, including:
• 793 Bronze Lifesaving Certificates
• 839 Bronze Stars
• 217 Bronze Medallions
• 32 NLA Distinctions
The skills are great for all involved with it and the awards are achievable for most people, given enough time.
NLA Instructor
(NLA) allows young people how to manage an emergency both in water environments and outside of water environments. They develop skills for internationally recognised qualifications such as the NPLQ or NVBLQ.
NLA Instructor
The RLSS UK NLA Sports Awards have proved a popular addition to the NLA programme, with 70 awarded. These awards provide a fantastic opportunity for those aged 12 years and over to engage with Lifesaving Sport, one of the world’s only competitive sports with humanitarian origins.
Ensuring inclusivity in lifesaving and lifeguarding remained a firm focus.
At RLSS UK, we are passionate about ensuring that our lifesaving awards and qualifications are inclusive for everyone.
Since its introduction in June 2024, 869 RLSS UK Licence to Operate members have completed the neurodiversity module, which is now included in the Trainer Assessor Standardisation Training. The module teaches the key domains of learning, how people process, use and store information and how best to support neurodiverse candidates during courses.
Special Considerations can help candidates overcome disadvantage arising from an event outside their control, which had or was likely to have, a significant material effect on their ability to take an assessment. This includes when an individual may be unable to demonstrate the required level of competency, for example for a candidate who has temporarily experienced an illness or injury. In 2024, the RLSS UK Compliance team assisted with 318 Special Consideration requests for qualification candidates. For those candidates who were deemed to be disadvantaged, RLSS UK offered a post-assessment adjustment to the candidate’s assessment results, or rearrangement of an assessment time or date.
Reasonable Adjustment requests help to reduce the effect of a disclosed disability or difficulty, which may place the candidate at a disadvantage during the delivery of a qualification or an assessment situation. The most common Reasonable Adjustments that centres applied themselves were allocating candidates an extra 25% of time to sit a theory exam or providing candidates with a reader during the assessment. In addition, the RLSS UK Compliance team supported a further 110 candidates with more complex reasonable adjustment requests during the year.
RLSS UK awarded 45,000+ first aid qualifications and bolton awards in 2024. More than half of these awards consisted of an AED bolton appended to one of our lifeguarding qualifications, helping ensure lifeguards are even more well-prepared for an emergency.
RLSS UK’s First Aid Essentials suite includes all the essential first aid courses that individuals and employers need to meet their health and safety requirements.
Our first aid qualifications are endorsed and quality-assured by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), the professional development body for the UK’s sport and physical activity sector. RLSS UK remains an active member of the First Aid Awarding Organisation Forum (FAAOF), collaborating on best practice to maintain quality to ensure the integrity and currency of regulated qualifications.
As of May 2024, with both RLSS UK’s NPLQ and First Aid Essentials qualifications, candidates can gain UCAS Tariff points, helping them towards their further studies.
88% of candidates who had reasonable adjustments put in place said the changes completely or mostly met their needs (n=126).
SPOTLIGHT ON...
EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS TO RLSS UK FIRST AID QUALIFICATIONS.
As part of our ongoing focus on keeping our qualifications and awards current and up to date, in 2024 our Qualifications and Development team worked with groups of experienced trainers to review the look and feel of our first aid qualification.
As a result, we launched an updated and refreshed first aid programme, including changes to the RLSS UK’s First Aid suite.
Changes included:
• New look ‘First Aid Essentials’ suite
• Refreshed Candidate Manuals
• New images and videos
• New supporting resources
• Improved learner journey
I have just finished my First Aid at Work course and I must say how impressed I was with the new first aid essentials. The pictures are more graphic and more realistic, and I love the short videos.
Mitch Mitchell, Senior Sports Officer Strood Leisure Centre
I recently completed delivering the RLSS First Aid Essential Training to 10 learners and I couldn’t be more impressed with the experience…I highly recommend RLSS UK First Aid Essential Training to anyone looking to enhance their first aid skills and as operators.
Christian Manalo, Splash Manager, Butlins Minehead
1,499 of RLSS UK’s new National Water Safety Management Programme DEFRA qualifications awarded, helping ensure safer working practices in, on and around water.
Water safety training is a legal requirement and essential for ensuring your workforce remains safe. Incidents with water can happen quickly and unexpectedly, and the consequences can be severe. Hence, having the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about managing water safety is incredibly important.
The National Water Safety Management Programme DEFRA (NWSMP DEFRA) aligns with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)’s outcomes and objectives. It equips anyone working in, on, or near water with essential knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about managing water safety.
Our staff have many years of experience and knowledge of surveying, but very few people we employ had previously completed any form of water safety training. We consider water safety training paramount for our staff, as it empowers them to be aware of the potential dangers that exist upstream and downstream and plan and properly prepare so they can ensure that correct equipment is at hand, should it be required.
Chris Coates, Grantham Coates Surveys.
SPOTLIGHT ON...
NATASHA (TASHA) MCLOUGHLIN
RLSS UK Volunteer and RLSS UK advocate promoting our Don’t Drink and Dive partnership.
My name’s Tasha and the first thing to know about me is that I’ve always loved the water! For as long as I can remember, I’ve jumped at any opportunity to get to swim in water – whether it be pools, rivers, lakes or even the odd water trough when visiting family in Italy.
I joined a swimming club when I was 11 years old and swam with them for seven years until I was 18. When I was 17, I completed my NPLQ – hard to think that that was almost 23 years ago now!
Over the next 20 years, I grew my passion for swimming and worked in various roles across a number of pools, both public and private. My roles included working across schools as a swimming teacher, NPLQ Trainer Assessor, a Fin2Fit Mermaid Instructor and even becoming a professional mermaid! It was there I felt I found my (mer)people and I began volunteering my time with Merfolk UK and working for Hire a Mermaid UK.
I had been volunteering in various capacities but not really in leisure until late 2019 when I became a committee member at my local 100+ year old lido. Just as I was getting started, lockdown unfortunately hit in 2020. However, I was still able to help them get their winterised pool ready for summer and complete additional training for their small team of lifeguards. I then helped and advised them on staying open in the winter and offering cold water swimming. I myself had taken up more cold/open water and wild swimming during the lockdowns and could see the popularity increasing, so offered my help.
In late 2021, I gave up full time work to look after my three boys. The following spring, I did my Open Water Lifeguard (OWL) course and a new passion was born! I began swimming in open water events and was invited to volunteer at the Great North Swim by the Trainer Assessors from my OWL course. It was at this event that I felt like I had again found my people. It was a great personal achievement, and I have subsequently found friends for life.
This then also created a pathway to more events, many of which were festivals. I had never been to a festival before working with the RLSS UK and it’s fair to say I am now well and truly hooked! Volunteering means I can work as much or as little as I like – I love the flexibility and the enormous sense of achievement and adventure I get at each event, despite some events being challenging at times.
I still work as a casual lifeguard and freelance as a lifeguard, TA and mermaid – but I always plan my time trying to attend as many volunteer events as possible.
As a participant in the RLSS “Don’t Drink and Dive” campaign in association with Malibu, I had the opportunity to actively raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and diving. Stationed at Camden Lock alongside another lifeguard, I engaged with members of the public, discussing the risks associated with alcohol consumption and water-related activities.
During the event, I wore a ‘Don’t Drink and Dive’ jumper created by Made with Love by Tom Daley. I continued to wear this jumper throughout the Christmas period, which provided additional opportunities to discuss the campaign with various people in different settings. By doing so, I was able to extend the campaign’s reach beyond the initial event, ensuring that the message remained in circulation during a time when alcohol consumption is typically high.
Through this initiative, I gained a great sense of achievement and pride in contributing to public safety awareness. I feel confident that my involvement helped to spread the campaign’s message effectively, encouraging individuals to make safer choices around water.
Consultancy, expertise
and partnership
SPOTLIGHT ON...
PARTNERSHIP
RLSS UK analysis showed teenagers and young adults are most at risk in high temperatures.
Using data provided by the Met Office, RLSS UK was able to complete an analysis of the relationship between air temperature and accidental drowning fatalities. In the report, we provided evidence of a relationship between the two factors and demonstrated, that when average maximum air temperatures are at their highest, more than half of those who accidentally drowned were swimming.
Read the report here.
Our Objective
To create strategic partnerships and collaborations to share expertise and maximise our impact and reach.
Accidental drownings triple during extreme heat, compared to a typical summer day.
Water safety messages amplified via Met Office WeatherReady pages and #WeatherHacks
We established an exciting new partnership with the Met Office, which has seen RLSS UK’s expert water safety knowledge and advice feature on the Met Office’s website, as part of their WeatherReady pages. This part of their site publicises expert seasonal advice to help members of the public prepare for and respond to seasonal changes in weather, as well as specific weather events.
As part of the partnership, we launched an RLSS UK #WeatherHack. A top tip for staying safe that was shared with the Met Office’s circa. 600k followers on Instagram and TikTok. The co-branded graphic, “Be bright, take a light” helped to raise the profile of RLSS UK with audiences across the UK.
National
Child Mortality Database (NCMD) partnership grows access to child drowning data and supports the engagement of new audiences.
RLSS UK maintained its dynamic partnership with NCMD during 2024, enabling the additional release of child drowning statistics in England, covering the period 2022-23. They were used to promote awareness of the drowning risk during our Drowning Prevention Week (DPW) campaign.
The partnership also created opportunities for RLSS UK to raise the drowning agenda by presenting highlights of our work in communities at The Annual Trauma Conference and engage healthcare professional audiences via our campaign messaging specifically targeted at healthcare workers.
Child Drowning Update published in response to increase in child drowning deaths
Following the release of new data from the NCMD, RLSS UK published a more detailed analysis of child drownings from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2023 highlighting the significant number of drownings that had occurred at home.
Findings from the report were used to inform our ‘Splash Safety at your Pad’ campaign, which launched in October 2024.
SCAN HERE
to read the full report:
SCAN HERE to read the update
Water Safety at Home Campaign sees RLSS UK engage with Institute of Health Visitors for the first time, driving vital messaging into homes of new parents.
In response to findings in RLSS UK’s Child Drowning Update, we developed a brand-new water safety awareness campaign aimed at driving a renewed focus on how to stay safe when in and around water at home as well as promoting the importance of competent adult supervision.
Splash Safety at your Pad launched in October 2024 and saw coverage in national news media, including The Sun, The Mirror and The Daily Mail. The launch post saw a fantastic response on social media, being liked, shared and commented on over 5,000 times.
The campaign also included materials targeted specifically at health professionals, such as the
Institute for Health Visitors – asking them to support our ambition to reduce drowning by encouraging families to always supervise children in, on and around water, including when at home.
SCAN HERE to find out more about Splash Safety in the Bath
SPOTLIGHT ON...
‘Don’t
Drink and Dive’ campaign saw water safety messages reach younger adults
In partnership with Malibu, as part of its ambition to be a socially responsible brand, Summer 2024 saw former Olympic gold medallist and five-time Olympian Tom Daley remind Brits to avoid alcohol around water, as part of the launch of the ‘Don’t Drink and Dive’ campaign.
The campaign gained enormous engagement across social media and press channels, resulting in RLSS UK seeing an additional 500 followers accessing our regular water safety messages on Instagram and delivering a significant increase in brand awareness, amongst the 18–34-year-old age group, providing a greater opportunity to deliver the society’s vital water safety messages.
The campaign also ran in December, reminding partygoers to avoid drinking alcohol around water and ensure they found a safe route home with friends.
to view the ad
I’ve always loved being in the water, but maybe more than most, I also understand its power and the need to respect it to stay safe. I’m proud to be working with Malibu and the Royal Life Saving Society UK to get this message out there. Stay safe and ‘Don’t Drink and Dive!’
Tom Daley, Five Time Olympic Medallist and Diving Champion
On the Beach partnership drives water safety messages in time for school holidays.
We joined package holiday company, On the Beach, to help raise awareness around safer swimsuit colours, encouraging members of the public looking to go abroad to take the time to get educated around water safety.
I’ve swam my entire life, and I’ve only recently become aware that there are certain colours that can’t be seen underwater. As a parent, I feel like I should have been aware of this sooner.
Rebecca Adlington, Campaign Ambassador
Promoted by Olympic Swimmer Rebecca Adlington, the campaign saw On the Beach share RLSS UK’s water safety advice with families who booked a holiday, ensuring that vital water safety advice was shared with holidaymakers, ahead of their trip abroad.
RLSS UK Consultancy projects continue to expand the number of people benefitting from our water safety advice and guidance.
RLSS UK Consultancy continues to grow its number of projects, from 21 in 2022 to 65 in 2024.
Our consultancy work is varied and in 2024 we conducted risk assessments for Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems. Our work ensured the correct signage and rescue equipment was in place for open water sites for local authorities, verified that lifeguard numbers and positions were correct for swimming pool operators, and collaborated with landowners to help them understand and meet their responsibilities to the public around their bodies of water.
In one example, Hildenborough Parish Council required a comprehensive water safety risk assessment for a wild pond located in West Wood.
Thank you for the helpful observations and recommendations in your Safety Assessment. You have provided exactly the service the Parish Council sought to enable them to ensure the safety of Hildenborough’s residents best.
Julia Church, Clerk to Hildenborough Parish Council
Holidaymakers’ safety reviewed at 50 holiday parks via Lifeguard Zone Visibility Tests (LZVTs).
Lifeguard Zone Visibility Tests (LZVTs) are designed to help pool operators find the optimal positions for lifeguards, ensuring they can effectively manage swimming pool hazards and maintain high visibility in their zone. They are essential for ensuring that our lifeguard practices align with the industry’s best guidance. The tests help ensure the safety of all pool users, upholding RLSS UK’s commitment to excellence in lifeguard supervision.
71+ mystery site visits conducted on behalf of leading holiday and water park operators, safeguarding the welfare of thousands of holidaymakers and visitors.
Visits involved RLSS UK representatives attending sites as guests and assessing important aspects of water safety, ensuring standards are being adhered to and always maintained. Through our mystery visits, we support the continuous improvement of swimming pool operations, reinforcing our commitment to safety and excellence.
RLSS UK worked in collaboration with Lynxight to install Assisted Lifeguard Technology in 46 swimming pools, to enhance safety and support operations.
2024 has seen an increase in the number of swimming pools adopting Assisted Lifeguard Technology, highlighting the growing number of operators committed to enhancing pool safety and looking for support in operational challenges. RLSS UK has been instrumental in supporting operators and guiding the industry through its adoption and implementation. With our expertise, throughout 2024 RLSS UK continued to work with industry bodies to provide guidance for all operators using or considering technology.
One of the 2024 installations saw Abbeycroft, which manages facilities for West Suffolk Council and Babergh District Council, install Lynxight in their Mildenhall site.
“We are proud to be one of the first small trusts in the UK to install this technology. Working with RLSS UK has ensured that we have considered safety first, and we felt that a blended approach would support the wellbeing of our lifeguards while enhancing the safety of our swimmers.”
Tracey
Loynds, Operations Director for Abbeycroft
Scanhere
to find out more
AN ESTIMATED 1.6M VISITORS
benefited from enhanced water safety via RLSS UK’s aqua park safety accreditation.
RLSS UK is the appointed auditor for the Aqua Parks Association UK and Ireland, inspecting parks that have signed up for the scheme against the standards set. In 2024, 41 UK and Irish aqua parks undertook the RLSS UK aqua park accreditation, up from 31 in 2023, keeping an estimated 300,000 additional visitors safe.
1,475 pieces of safety equipment registered on the GoodSAM app, driving easy access for responders in an emergency.
The GoodSAM app includes a register of both those willing to respond in an emergency (‘responders’), but also lifesaving equipment, which can prove vital in rescuing someone who is in difficulty in the water.
With the help of RLSS UK, the GoodSAM app, which now boasts over 1m users, has been updated to allow those registering equipment to plot their exact location, to allow quick and easy access when needed.
Critically, the app also now allows people to report if a piece of equipment is missing or damaged. In 2024, there were 28 reports of missing or damaged equipment, which RLSS UK followed up with the relevant landowners to help rectify the issues and ensure equipment is fit for purpose when needed.
Both Stephanie and Ness continue to support the society’s work, with Ness championing our Water Smart Schools programme.
Brave mums share their stories to help save lives.
On behalf of everyone at RLSS UK, we’d like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Ness Abbess and Stephanie Williams who collaborated with us to bravely tell the stories of the day they tragically lost their children, 17-year-old Joe and 12-year-old Sunnah, to drowning.
One year on, the mothers talk openly about the events of that tragic day and the loss of their children via a video produced by RLSS UK. The key message behind the video is to spread awareness that drowning can happen to anyone, regardless of swimming ability – and that every child and parent needs to be educated on water safety.
Stephanie Williams said:
Although difficult to speak about, we wanted to do the video to honour Sunnah and Joe’s lives and highlight just how important it is to be aware of the dangers of water. If anything I say reaches even one person and changes something for the better, I’d like to.
Vanessa Abbess added:
I hope that through sharing the painful story of Joe and Sunnah, we are able to reach as many people as possible – and potentially save lives by educating others on the importance of water safety, because it can really happen to anyone!
The video shows the devastating impact of drowning and was watched nearly 80,000 times during the campaign. The content generated thousands of comments on social media, strongly conveying the tragic impact a drowning has on families.
Thank you to Joe and Sunnah’s families for sharing their stories and helping raise awareness… please, please, make sure your young people know about water safety.
Facebook comment
Our Objective community Building our
Growing member numbers continue to expand our lifesaving community.
To build a sustainable, active, and thriving RLSS UK community.
Our members play a critical role in helping to support our work, raising awareness of water safety, and sharing lifesaving knowledge and skills in our communities. The number of RLSS UK members rose by over 1,000 in 2024 to 15,382.
I think everyone should be able to enjoy water safely. We (our lifesaving family) help others to learn new skills that will develop themselves as individuals, as well as equip them with skills to save someone’s life. We matter.
RLSS UK Member
278
RLSS UK affiliated clubs offered lifesaving activities in communities across the UK and Ireland
More than 6,950 children participated in lifesaving activities at our clubs. The clubs run in local communities and aim to teach children, from the age of eight, vitallifesaving knowledge and skills.
Being involved in one of our affiliated clubs is hugely beneficial for children who love making new friends and learning new skills.
Learning about water safety and having fun at the same time.
RLSS UK Affiliated Club Member, 13-years-old
My children have learned lots of skills and knowledge that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
Parent of child in RLSS UK Affiliated Club
93% of parents of children attending one of our clubs told us their participation in the club had had a positive impact on their ability to interact with others.
We’re committed to helping develop and grow our affiliated clubs to become more sustainable and successful.
To support this, in July 2024, we launched our Club Check accreditation. The scheme recognises high standards of governance, sustainability and effectiveness and supports clubs with growing membership, developing volunteers and helping to meet the industry needs. At the end of 2024, there were 54 clubs enrolled in the scheme, and 36 have fully completed the accreditation.
A very simple piece of advice to all clubs ‘Do It’. It will help the club stand out when potential members are looking for a lifesaving club to join. Having undertaken the Club Check last year this process had felt streamlined and well designed, we felt that it was an ideal opportunity to update our existing procedures and policies to the highest standard to ensure we are operating safely as a voluntary RLSS UK Club.
Wakefield Lifesaving Club
More than £75,000 was fundraised by our amazing supporters through a mix of challenges.
Examples include Make a Splash, an exhausting 12-hour swim, a challenging mountain hike, corporate sponsorships and other donations, funding us to provide even more people with access to our water safety advice and education.
We had 1,000+ lifesaving sport
entrants displaying their incredible lifesaving skills at RLSS UK events.
Lifesaving Sport is the only sport in the world with humanitarian origins and helps celebrate the incredible skills that exist in our communities, as well as encouraging others to get involved.
The weekend of 23 – 24 March marked the start of the RLSS UK Lifesaving Sport calendar with the National Speed Lifesaving Championships, affectionately known as Speeds. The 2024 event was not only one of the largest events in Speeds history with over 550 competitors taking part, but the competition was held in the impressive Sandwell Aquatics Centre for the first time – a pool that was purpose-built for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham 2022.
In addition to a new venue, the team was also able to debut a new livestream, hosted on the RLSS UK YouTube channel. This amazing opportunity allowed parents, relatives and fans of Lifesaving Sport around the UK, Ireland and further afield to watch all the action as it happened – including friends and family of the Norwegian Lifesaving Club that was taking part.
In addition, during the summer, Lifesaving Sport athletes selected to represent Team GBR headed to the Gold Coast of Australia to take part in the Lifesaving World Championships, whilst back in the UK, Regional Heats took place up and down the country ready for the National Lifesaving Championship Finals on 2 November in Leeds. The Championship finals saw brilliant performances throughout the day.
Our first lifesaving event and such a positive experience. My son had lost some of his enthusiasm for swimming and lifesaving has given both him and my daughter renewed purpose and confidence. Competitive but a much friendlier, team atmosphere. You could feel that within the spectators as well.
Thank you so much.
Parent of Speeds Competitor
104 William Henry volunteering awards have been presented, celebrating more than 8,600 hours and expanding our community footprint.
Hours were registered for a broad range of activities, including delivering practical and class-based education, representing RLSS UK at a community event, delivering water safety or first aid education in schools, providing Save a Baby’s Life training and facilitating Drowning Prevention Week campaign activity.
763 members and associates completed Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion training, totalling 190 study hours.
The programme aims to raise awareness and understanding of EDI and promote a more inclusive, welcoming environment for everyone involved in the organisation. Members and associates are encouraged to complete the course.
Eight events and festivals were safeguarded by the RLSS UK Water Safety team, keeping more than half a million people safe whilst having fun in, on and around the water.
RLSS UK provided teams at six sporting events, including the UK’s largest open water swimming event, the Great North Swim and the World-famous Henley Regatta. Lifeguard cover was also provided at two music festivals, including Lost Village and Wilderness.
Check out the new DD&D video HERE:
Our #Don’tDrinkandDrown campaign reached a third more people on Facebook and Instagram amplifying our stay safe and #BeAMate message.
In communities, our fantastic volunteers hosted their own mini events – helping to raise the campaign profile across different areas of the country.
One of the standout elements of this year’s campaign was our brand-new video, urging everyone to #BeAMate. The video resonated deeply with our audience on social media and generated over 1,600 likes, shares and comments.
Wow that packed a punch. Thank you for sharing the important message - this rings true as I live in Richmond Upon Thames and from Manchester (which have all the canals in the city centre).
Instagram comment
Our flagship Drowning Prevention Week (DPW) campaign had increased momentum, with shares, likes and comments on social media up by over 80%, enabling more members of the public to see our critical water safety messages.
Thanks to support from our network of clubs, branches, volunteers, educators and leisure centres, during the campaign, an estimated 1.25m+ children were taught vital water safety skills using our free, downloadable educational resources, equipping them with the knowledge to stay safe ahead of the summer.
Drowning
Prevention Week 2024 was featured in 275 news articles and broadcasts including the BBC, ITV and Sky.
Our Water Safety Code animation was SHARED OVER 1.500 TIMES, on social media. SCAN HERE for more information on DPW.
336 RLSS UK Members
were recognised for their outstanding contributions to the society’s work totalling an incredible 3,500+ years of lifesaving.
Our Honours event recognised RLSS UK members on merit, for long service and via special awards, each of which aims to salute the significant impact of volunteers in educating and training more people to enjoy water safely across the UK and Ireland.
26 #EverydayHeroes were recognised for their heroic interventions to assist someone in trouble.
This year’s heroes ranged in age from 10 to 60 years of age, showing how lifesaving skills can be used to save another at any point in our own lives.
Four staff members at Aqua Park Rutland were just some of 2024’s #EVERYDAYHEROES
SPOTLIGHT ON...
DANIEL OWENS, RLSS UK FUNDRAISER
Daniel raised almost £2,000 for the charity, enough to deliver water safety education to 26 classrooms of children.
After completing the RLSS UK’s National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) aged 17, and subsequently working as a lifeguard, Daniel was left feeling that too many people were lacking basic water safety knowledge.
As a result, Daniel decided to complete a 12-hour swim challenge to raise vital funds that would be used to raise awareness of water safety, and see more people complete essential water safety education.
The work RLSS UK does is invaluable, especially when it comes to drowning prevention and the promotion of swimming. The support and encouragement they give you also is superb, motivating and inspiring your journey, as well assisting in promoting it to the wider community.
Thankyou
to all our supporters and partners
Where our purpose is similar and our values aligned, we strive to create strategic partnerships and collaborations which enable us to share expertise to ensure we maximise our impact and reach.
We’d like to say thank you to all the partners who worked alongside us in 2024.
Our strategic partners complement our delivery with their products, services, representatives, and a different strategic viewpoint, all with one aim – to prevent drowning.
• Angling Trust
• Black Owned Swim-School
• Black Swimming Association
• Camp America
• Canal & River Trust
• Child Bereavement UK
• Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT)
• Eagle Eye Innovations Ltd.
• GoodSAM
• Institute of Swimming
• Leisure DB
• Leisure Loop Recycle Scheme
• Level Water
• Laerdal
• Met Office
• National Child Mortality Database (NCMD)
• RLSS Commonwealth
• Safe Water Sports
• Surfers Against Sewage
• Surfing England
• The National Water Safety Forum
• The Wetsuit Factory
• Water Babies
Our Water Safety Partners helped ensure the RLSS UK name is synonymous with high-standard products and services, industry innovation, and an ongoing dedication to educating people about water safety and promoting safe water-based activities.
• 4Leisure Recruitment
• Air Space
• dryrobe®
• Glasdon
• Hoxton Ai
• Loan A Lifeguard
• Port Safety
• Red Paddle
• Red Rescue
• Restube
• Ruth Lee Ltd
• The Play Inspection Company
• Wibit Sports
We worked with an impressive list of commercial partners to help improve water safety and make a positive difference to health and safety standards across the UK and Ireland.
• Active Nation UK
• Bristol Maritime
• Carnival UK
• David Lloyd Leisure
• Durham County Council
• East Riding of Yorkshire Council
• Everybody Health and Leisure
• Everyone Active
• Fife Sports and Leisure Trust
• Freedom Leisure
• Fusion Lifestyle
• GLL
• Haven Holidays
• Halo Leisure
• Leeds City Council – Active Leeds
• Parkdean Resorts
• Right Directions
• Parkwood Leisure
• Places For People
• Serco Leisure
• Tabula Rasa Ltd
• Telford & Wrekin Council
• The Highland Council (High Life Highland)
• Total Fitness
• Warner Hotels
• Wiltshire County Council
With the help of our members, volunteers, supporters, and partners, we’ve been able to achieve a lot in 2024. But there is still much to do to ensure that everyone, from every community, has the potential to access vital water safety education and enjoy water safely.
RLSS UK, Red Hill House, 227 London Road, Worcestershire WR5 2JG W. rlss.org.uk | E. info@rlss.org.uk | T. 0300 3230 096
Registered Charity (England and Wales 1046060, Scotland SC037912). Private Limited by Guarantee Company (3033781). Fundraising Standards Board Member.