Water Safety Advice For Your BusinessRoyal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) is proud to be the UK and Ireland's industry leader in water-related safety qualifications and training for aquatic, open water, and beach operators and be recognised worldwide as an expert in lifeguarding and water safety. We work with an impressive list of national leisure operators and partners - from hotels, spas, and competition pools to leisure centres, aqua parks and open water venues and have supported many businesses and landowners in meeting their responsibilities to water safety. Our trusted brand gives peace of mind to businesses and the millions of people who access the facilities and sites we support. Qualifications and Awards Water safety training is essential for any business with employees working on, in, or near water. Every year, we certify more than 60,000 regulated qualifications and non-regulated vocational training awards, and more lifeguards qualify with RLSS UK than any other awarding body! Training We support many large organisations and businesses with more bespoke training needs - including the cruise and holiday industries. We can adapt 'off the shelf' RLSS UK qualifications and awards to provide a solution or create new, bespoke training products or packages tailored to your business. Consultancy We are experts at delivering clear and practical consultancy support to any business, organisation or individual with liabilities to visitors and staff around water. Our consultancy work is varied, and we cover a wide range of locations across the UK. For example, in 2023, we completed projects including water safety risk assessments for indoor pools and open water venues, local authorities and private landowners who own/manage bodies of water, as well as water safety audits on the coast. RLSS UK Shop We are also at the forefront of supporting companies in manufacturing and distributing innovative and compliant lifesaving equipment, and the RLSS UK Shop offers official uniforms and training, first aid, and safety equipment for the leisure industry and beyond. To learn how we can help your business, contact [email protected]. Our trusted brand gives peace of mind to businesses and the millions of customers who access the facilities we support.To find out how we can help your business, contact us at [email protected]. Free Water Safety Advice Water Safety - Am I Doing Enough? Essential Water Safety Guidance Consultancy Services How We Can Help Consultancy Projects Make an Enquiry DEFRA Training NWSMP - DEFRA National Water Safety Management Programme (NWSMP) Water Rescue Equipment Training (WRET) Choosing the right water safety training course Aqua Park Services Accreditation Equipment Industry Qualifications Why Choose Us For Your Staff For Your Customers Bespoke Training How We Can Help Make an Enquiry Deliver our Qualifications Partners Become an Approved Training Centre / Provider Become a Commercial Partner Become a Water Safety Partner RLSS UK Advisors Celebrating our Volunteers this Volunteers’ Week! What role you play as a volunteer for RLSS UK?Probably a facilitator! I teach, coach, compete and train to let others know about the fantastic opportunities that are available within the RLSS UK. Why did you initially become involved in lifesaving?I still remember the advert in The Wells Journal I saw as a 12-year-old, calling for new members to save Wells Life Saving Club! The club met at 7.30pm on Monday evenings at the outdoor pool in Wells during the summer months. I seem to remember more cold and wet evenings than warm, sunny ones, but the main trainer was a 19-year old former Bridgwater Lifeguard Corps member who, to me, knew everything about lifesaving which was great. What is your lifesaving background?I have come a long way from failing my first Bronze Medallion at Cheddar outdoor pool on a wet, Friday evening! I stayed with Wells Life Saving Club, tried to keep up and continue lifesaving whilst at University in London and then returned to Wells the day of the club AGM. I have been there ever since, although Wells Life Saving Club now meets in an indoor pool in Street. My return to Somerset meant I found out about the Branch, the former Bridgwater Lifeguard Corps member was back from a spell in the London Metropolitan Police, and there were some interesting Somerset Branch experiences ahead! How long have you been volunteering for?For more than 25 years I have been involved in teaching children and adults lifesaving activities, as a Lifesaving and Pool TA. I currently teach at Wells Lifesaving Club on Thursdays and Sundays. I also coach those involved with Lifesaving Sport, with many competitors reaching the National Lifesaving Championships over the past few years. I have been an active member of Somerset Branch Committee and the wider West Regional Committee for over 25 years, helping to organise events, training and education to local communities across the region. More recently I have been involved in planning and running various international exchange programmes and camps to continue to increase the confidence and knowledge of UK lifesavers. What keeps you motivated to continue to give up your time?Giving others the opportunity to do things that I didn’t know existed within lifesaving when I was a club member, seeing people enjoying lifesaving and developing confidence through the RLSS UK programmes and hearing about what people I have taught have done that has made a real difference. What’s in it for you?The RLSS UK has always had a development pathway for volunteers and some of the training that I have done with them has helped in my non-related professional life.Who is your inspirational figure?There are loads of inspirational people who have motivated me and given up their time for me during my time with the RLSS UK and over the years these have included – At a club level – Nick Gadd – the 19-year old trainer at Wells LS Club. The late Joan Tilyard from Somerset Branch – had so much enthusiasm for lifesaving from a kid through to her 60s and really believed in giving opportunities to younger Branch members. Stuart Bailey – one of the first ‘important lifesaving characters’, I first met on a water sports activity course at Calshot. Stuart always has time for people and remembers people for who they are. I am really grateful to current lifesaving friends including Alan Sutherland and Ellen Moore for ‘putting up with me’. Follow our Volunteer stories on Twitter and Facebook #VolunteersWeek Manage Cookie Preferences