The Ripple Effect – Northern Ireland (UK)

Writer and expert3 years ago

Spearheaded by the City of Belfast Swimming Club, The Ripple Effect launched in 2016 to support the UK Drowning Prevention Strategy, which aims to reduce drowning fatalities in the UK by 50% by 2026. Swim Generation™ joins Northern Ireland charity, Hope for Youth and the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) to support this initiative.

Aimed at raising awareness of safety in water throughout local communities, this hands-on training scheme focuses on promoting water safety and drowning prevention by equipping local children with the knowledge and essential swimming skills needed to minimise dangerous incidents.

Piloted with Elmgrove Primary School in East Belfast and taking place at council-owned Avoniel Leisure Centre. This initiative will see a roll-out of swimming education outreach and applied survival and life-saving lessons across schools in Belfast initially and subsequently throughout Northern Ireland.

The Ripple Effect is being implemented in three key stages; the initial stage involves primary school children participating in classroom and pool lessons led by coaches with RLSS UK National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) which include water safety presentations, practical floating techniques and life-saving activities. Stage two involves RLSS UK’s Rookie Lifeguard award within the City of Belfast Swimming Club to transform enrolled children into mini lifeguards by teaching them valuable survival, rescue and sports skills that will enable them to enjoy water safely. The final phase of the year-long programme is an end of season cross-community event that will celebrate and award each child’s achievement.