THIS summer’s Swim Safe initiative in Bude has been a huge success, with thanks expressed to the volunteers and the Sea Pool for their assistance in helping deliver the free sea safety sessions for youngsters.

The joint programme between the RNLI and Swim England has been teaching children aged seven to 14 the vital skills to help them keep safe or know what to do should they find themselves in trouble in open water with sessions throughout August.

Bill Williams, the Swim Safe site co-ordinator at Bude, recently told the Post the programme this summer has been ‘brilliant’. Now a national programme, it was launched in Bude in 2013, and still goes from strength to strength in this area.

He said: “Last year around 630 children took part, the year before 580. At the moment 823 have taken part. Our aim is to break the record and get thousands. It’s been so popular we’re considering doing one in the school half term in October. Even despite the weather, we have had a wet summer, but we have had lots of people come down in the rain saying we are going to get wet anyway!

“It’s getting very popular around the country. There were people who tried to do it in Bournemouth, where they live, but weren’t able to, so they went online and said let’s go to Bude for a holiday! For people coming to holiday in Bude, I think if [Swim Safe] wasn’t to happen there would be a lot of unhappy people.”

Bill said he has been indirectly involved with Swim Safe since day one. He was a member of the Bude Sea Pool committee, where the programme first started, and became the RNLI community safety officer two years ago, and took over as co-ordinator when the sessions moved to the Lifeboat station.

The Sea Pool still plays a big part in the programme, enabling them to act out scenarios, including what to do if you are on a boat that catches fire.

Two areas of focus for the safety sessions this year were cold water shock and supervision, aiming to teach children the vital skills to help them keep safe or know what to do should they find themselves in trouble in open water.

The RNLI and Swim England are keen to highlight swimming in open water is very different to swimming at a local leisure pool.

Clare Mitchell was on holiday to Cornwall and took her daughters Charlotte and Hannah along to a Swim Safe session. She said: “We come to Mawgan Porth every year and have been coming for the past 12 years. The girls both body board and have just started stand up surfing. We heard about Swim Safe whilst talking to an RNLI volunteer at Mawgan Porth beach and thought it would be good for the girls to come along. Charlotte and Hannah had a great time. If it taught them just one thing that could save their lives it would be worth it.

“They now understand that if they see anyone in danger that they tell the lifeguards or call 999/112 and ask for the coastguard giving as much information as they know. I would recommend that any parents should get their children to attend a session if they could learn something that could save their child’s life.”

Hannah, 12, said: “I learnt about what to do if I fell in cold water and also what to do if I got in a rip current. I would tell my friends to attend a session as it could save their lives.”

Charlotte, 14, said: “I was unsure about the hand signal to the lifeguards and always thought I should wave if I got into trouble. I feel a lot more confident now though.”

Guy Botterill, Swim Safe project manager, RNLI, said: “Children love swimming outdoors, but swimming in the sea, rivers and lakes is more challenging than swimming in a pool, where most lessons take place. Thanks to Swim Safe, thousands of children will learn how to keep safe when swimming outdoors and know what to do if they get into trouble. And because Swim Safe sessions are free and fun, they are a great activity for children aged seven to 14.”