Swim England’s Swim Safe event is set to return to Bude in the summer, after successful local fundraising.

Swim Safe teaches children from ages seven to 14 essential water safety skills, through a fun session delivered by trained instructors.

The event first took place in Bude in 2013, and was held there every year, until the summer of 2018.

Following cuts from organisers Swim England, Bude didn’t reach the requirement to have funding for the summer event and future sessions were cancelled.

Bill Williams, from Bude, who used to co-ordinate the event has been busy raising funds to pay for the safety sessions to return.

Bill said: “The event was hugely popular, every session was full. The last year we ran we had over 1,000 children attend, we even had family members attend so that number would be even higher.

“We had a lot of feedback from parents who said they would like to be informed as well you see.”

From the sessions, children learn where is safe to swim, how to float, what to do if something goes wrong and how to call for help if someone else is in trouble.

Bill continued: “For the second year running Bude has been voted one of the best beaches in the country. But safety is paramount due to the dangerous coasts around North Cornwall: with the rips and high tides, but it’s just good information to use anywhere.”

Bill explained that the town had become used to hosting the event adding: “There was disappointment this summer and a bit of a shock across the town after we were told that we didn’t meet the criteria to be able to host the Safer Seas event. I applied and unfortunately for a number of reasons we didn’t fit the bill.”

The total needed for it to run in 2019 is £8,500 and Bill explained that 30% of that needs to come from local funding, which works out at around £2,500.

“We have made that up mostly from donations and from the last fundraiser we last ran. We have made £1,700 so far and are just £800 short of our target amount.

“After I handed Swim England a cheque for £1,700, they confirmed that we will be hosting the Swim Safe event in the summer, but obviously we still need to raise the additional amount. We have a quiz and auction coming up on January 24, which we will also be auctioning lots of prizes. So I am hopeful that we will be able to reach what we need.”

The quiz will be held at Rosie’s Kitchen, Crooklets, starting at 7pm.

Bill said he was very grateful for the continued support of local groups and the RNLI.

“We have fantastic volunteers at the RNLI shop and the local surf groups, who without would make organising these events much harder. We really do rely on our volunteers and they work so hard to make this event always work so well.”

Most of the money required is used to pay for the staff that run the event, as well as the use of the equipment provided.

Bill is hopeful that they can raise more than what’s needed: “If we raise anything over the requirement, my plan is to save it up, to go towards next year.

“If we could get a sponsor that would be great! It’s cheap advertisement across the town, in the busiest time of year. It’s a great organisation for a sponsor to be associated with, plus we give away free t-shirts and things that could have the sponsor’s name on it.”

In the future Bill would like to have their own Bude Safer Seas branch.

“My goal is to be able to raise £10,000 so that we can buy all our own equipment and run it continuously year after year. We need 40 wetsuits, 40 rash vests, flags, also banners and posters that run across Bude.”

The event is confirmed to run from August 5 to 15.

For more information on how to become a volunteer, donate or sign up, email [email protected]