Specialist training to the lifesavers of the future was recently provided to young people in Pembrokeshire by the RNLI’s Youth Education Programme, following a successful debut by the charity last year.
The Programme, which runs in partnership with Surf Life Saving Association Wales and Sport Pembrokeshire, took place at Tenby South Beach and the local Tenby life saving club.
A total of 60 girls and 20 boys from Years 9 and 10 at Greenhill, Milford Haven and Pembroke secondary schools participated.
The course, which includes theory and practical elements of beach safety, covered topics such as basic life support, first aid and basic surf skills.
Each student was assessed throughout the day. If they passed, they were presented with a joint certificate from the RNLI and SLSA Wales which can be added to their CV as proof of their new skills.
Wyndham Williams, Sport Pembrokeshire’s Active Young People Officer explains the background to the programme;
“After last year’s success, the RNLI’s Youth Education Programme was fully booked for our week in Tenby as more and more students were eager to learn new skills and add towards their qualifications,” he said.
“This is still a new and exciting project for us in Sport Pembrokeshire working with the RNLI and Surf Life Saving Association for Wales.
“The aims of the programme are to encourage more participation from this particular age group in outdoor activities and get them hooked on sport.
“But ultimately the aim is for students to complete the day feeling confident and inspired as a result of their new skills. Hopefully some will choose to take their new skills further and look into joining their local Surf Lifesaving Clubs.”
The impact that the Youth Education Programme has had already made has been impressive.
In two weeks’ time, Sport Pembrokeshire will coordinate the running of two surf clubs at Greenhill and Milford Haven secondary school with 40 pupils embarking on a six week surf programme with Outer Reef surf school. Tenby Life Saving Club has also recruited some new members from this fantastic programme.
Sport Pembrokeshire will be helping coordinate another Youth Education Programme with the RNLI lifeguard team in September at Whitesands Bay and Tenby South Beach.
Captions
Pic 1
Pictured are some of the pupils from Greenhill, Pembroke and Milford Haven secondary schools, who recently took part in a surf life saving course at Tenby’s South Beach. Also pictured are some of the RNLI lifeguards who led the course.
Pic 2
Enjoying the surf at Tenby’s South Beach!
Pic 3
The RNLI programme was run in partnership with Surf Life Saving Association Wales and Sport Pembrokeshire – the sports development team at Pembrokeshire County Council.
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