The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), the Drowning Prevention Charity, held a fundraising event today (Friday 17 June) to mark the start of Drowning Prevention Week.

Drowning Prevention Week, the charity’s national campaign, returns from 18 – 26 June this year to help prevent drowning by raising awareness of the 400 people who lose their lives each year.

Drowning Prevention Week aims to ensure everyone knows how to have fun and stay safe near water.

Staff at RLSS UK HQ, based in Warwickshire, held a picnic followed by a bake off competition, games, a raffle and entertainment performances by staff members all in aid of drowning prevention and to raise money for the charity.

Stuart Haynes, RLSS UK Senior Events Executive said: “Around 400 people needlessly die from drowning in the UK every year and thousands more suffer injury, some life-changing, through near-drowning experiences. Shockingly, one person dies every 20 hours in the UK and drowning is the leading cause of accidental death of children in the UK.

“We wanted to kick start Drowning Prevention Week by holding our own fundraising event. We are extremely grateful to all the staff who took part and also from all the support the local community and businesses have given us in helping us hold such a fabulous event. We have raised over £393.91 for RLSS UK.”

Raffle prizes were kindly donated by:

• Super Car Experience Day from Experience Days
• £10 Voucher from Warner’s Budgens
• Overnight stay from Staverton Park, De Vere Group
• Golden Ticket from Q Hotels
• £20 Voucher from Mr Karting Ltd.
• Cafetiere from Café Azzurro
• Coffee Machine, Coffee & Biscuits from Stateside Coffee Company
• Bayliss and Harding Gift Sets from Kingfisher Shopping Centre
• Four tickets from Hatton Adventure World
• Afternoon tea for two from Hilton, Warwick
• Blue Hoodie from RLSS Direct
• Cinema Tickets from Picturehouse Cinema, Stratford-upon-Avon

Drowning Prevention Week will see schools, clubs, leisure centres and communities promote water safety through events, lessons, games and activities in a bid to make people more aware of the dangers of water. RLSS UK provides a host of resources including videos, presentations, lesson plans and games.

Drowning Prevention Week aims to raise money for the RLSS UK’s wider drowning prevention work, which includes providing support for families affected by drowning or near drowning. Donate now by texting DRPW16 + £donation amount to 70070.

For more information on Drowning Prevention Week –

Visit our website at www.rlss.org.uk

Follow us on Twitter – @RLSSUK

Visit our Facebook page – www.facebook.com/RLSSUK

Let us know what you are doing for Drowning Prevention Week by tweeting @RLSSUK using the hashtags #DPW #stopdrowning

Call – 0300 3230 096