AFTER a successful term, the team members at Aqua Stars Lifesaving Club near Holsworthy recently decided they would like to try something different and organise an adults open evening.

Aqua Stars have been running at Ruby Oak Park for four years and during that time has trained young people from the age of 12 in the skills of lifesaving, swimming and first aid and in the soft skills of leadership, communication, team work and planning.

It was these softer skills, combined with the pure lifesaving techniques that the young team decided to bring together.

Utilising a teaching method they had been taught during their RLSS Young Leader Award training, the team designated a facilitator and ran themselves a planning session.

They looked at what skills they knew that they could sensibly teach others in the space they had available and then worked out who would teach, what skill, in what area of the pool and what equipment they needed.

By dividing the pool into six sections the group were able to teach a selection of adults; snorkelling, sea scooters, rope throwing, rescue tows, deep water recoveries, float rescues and resuscitation. They planned a number of skill stations where the young members were able to showcase their skills and then train a guest before time was called and the guest moved onto the next station. The evening was overseen by the club’s coaches and the pools lifeguards to ensure all skills being taught were safe, correct and controlled.

The team spent time trying to encourage people to attend and were successful when eight people arrived for the evening, ready, willing and fully enabled to participate.

The evening finished with a rope throw race which was won by the dad of one of the young trainers, Max Jowett. After never throwing a rescue rope before, Max said it was a great experience being taught by the young members and the skills they were learning really did help them in life.

Laura Morrish, Ruby Oak director, said: “I enjoyed hosting the lifesaving club at the pool and after watching the group grow and perform was pleased to be able to employ some of the senior members in my lifeguard and teaching team.”

The club runs on a Friday evening at Ruby Oak Park Holsworthy from 6.30pm for an hour, and the group get to take part in competitions, lifesaving forums and even provide first aid cover at musical events.

Head coach, Andy Squirrell, said: “It’s been great seeing the club grow to the point that the members are now wanting to show case their skills to others. By enabling the members to teach each other, attend festivals and compete in competitions we really do see their confidence, team work and skills improve.”

More information on the club, visit www.swimaquastars.co.uk/page9.html or for more information on the teaching evening, speak to Andy or Laura on 01409 221580.