THE eighth year of Swim Safe Bude starts next week with two weeks of lessons in the seaside town.

Swim Safe is a series of 45-minute sessions for children aged seven to 14 on how to stay safe in the open water.

Having been running since 2013 – apart from last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic – local and visiting children have benefited it. Since last year though, those will notice as fundraising efforts have enabled them to build a new hut at Summerleaze Car Park as Swim Safe co-ordinator Bill Williams explains.

He told the Post: “Thanks to fundraising we’ve been able to build our own hut in Summerleaze Car Park, right by the head of the beach, next to the Nippers Hut.

“We’ve had some great help from the Bude Surf Veterans and the community group of The Barrell of Bude, and they’ve helped us build the hut from the ground up.

“There was such a long waiting list to buy one, so instead of buying one we decided to build our own. To buy would have cost between £3,500 and £4,000. With help from Bradford’s DIY, they gave us materials at cost to build the hut, which we thank them for.

“We had the grand opening for it on Thursday, June 15, ready for the Swim Safe to start between August 2 and August 12.

“We run from 10am to 4pm from Monday to Thursday for the two weeks.

“To book a spot you need to visit www.swimsafe.org.uk and then select ‘Bude’. Children need to be confident in the water and be able to swim short distances.”

So what will the children learn?

Bill added: “There are four key messages they will learn.

“The first is, being able to find a safe place to swim, the second is always swim with an adult so that if there’s a rip current, the parents can be aware, and the others are if you fall in, to be able to float, breathe and relax, and the final one is to be able to call for help if you or anyone else is in trouble.”

Amongst Bude helpers will be two girls who have been part of this.

Bill said: “We’ve got two lifeguards this year who were part of Swim Safe Bude, Ella and Khaya Paton. When they were teenagers they came through the scheme and since then have gone through Bude Surf Life Saving Club to now saving lives. They helped open the huts with me last week.”

Bill went on to thank the volunteers and supporters who make it possible each year.

He added: “Most of the volunteers we have for this have been doing it for the last eight years, I’d like to thank them for their continued support, and I’d also like thank to thank all of the supporters and business sponsors that make it possible.

“We’re really looking forward to meeting any child that would like to learn how to stay safe in the water and have a fun time doing it.”

For anyone who would like to sign up or get involved as a volunteer, email Bill on [email protected]