As drownings are tragically again in the news, MP backs Royal Life Saving Society UK’s move to reach further into communities.

The UK’s Drowning Prevention Charity has this week announced it has created four brand new roles to reach deeper into communities to combat drowning and save lives.

The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) recognises that drowning is a national, social issue and works tirelessly to reduce the number of unnecessary deaths each year.

One way to do this is to educate at a local level and the new Community Drowning Prevention Co-ordinators will cover the UK and Ireland to do this, working alongside the charity’s 10,000 volunteers.

They set out on the road as the issue of drowning is again in the public arena as a number of students have recently lost their lives in tragic circumstances.

RLSS UK CEO, Di Steer, said: “Drowning is a serious social issue as, tragically, the recent spate of students drowning highlights further.

“In their unique roles, our Community Drowning Prevention Co-ordinators will strive to work with and serve communities at a local level to drive home our water safety messages and education.

“This proactive approach will complement our work with other national and local organisations in the effort to save as many lives as possible – one more accidental drowning is one too many.”

The move follows a year of campaigning by the RLSS UK, resulting in an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for water safety and drowning prevention.

Karen Lumley MP is vice-chair of the APPG and has been working with RLSS UK since teenager Richard Fellows tragically drowned in her Redditch constituency last year.

“The news that the RLSS UK has further shown its dedication to educating everyone in water safety with the announcement of four new RLSS UK Community Drowning Prevention Co-ordinators is fantastic.

“These roles will mean the charity’s messages reach into communities further and I believe the move will make a real difference in its aim of reducing the number of people who lose their lives to drowning each year.”

For more information on the Community Drowning Prevention Co-ordinators and how they could help your community click here.