Over the past couple of months, RLSS UK has announced that it is putting a process in place to support four young people from across the organisation to attend this year’s World Conference on Drowning Prevention (WCDP) in Penang, Malaysia. This is a momentous opportunity for four young people to learn from world leaders in drowning prevention work and research.

The WCDP takes place every two years to bring together research and best practice so that organisations from around the world can network and improve their own practice, complementing the international agenda to combat drowning. This year’s conference has special importance as RLSS Commonwealth will be hosting its own independent networking sessions to connect better with our brothers and sisters across the Commonwealth. Read more about this year’s conference.

The RLSS UK Board of Trustees has agreed to fund 50 per cent of each young person’s involvement in the World Conference and we are asking the chosen applicant’s local branch to fund the other 50 per cent.

The conference takes place between the 2 and 9 November 2015 and is open to individuals between 18 and 30 (please note other parameters apply). Applications close on 31 August 2015 at 9am.

This is an excellent opportunity for young people to learn, network and be enthused by the tenacious work across the world, something which will be invaluable to local drowning prevention work. Successful applicants will be:

• Responsible for representing RLSS UK on an international stage. This will involve representing the best interest of the organisation and not representing any personal interests or agendas
• Required to attend a series of workshops and symposiums. Candidates will be required to feedback how RLSS UK can use the information to learn from best practice or develop its own policies or partnerships
• Required to contribute to and attend the 2016 Youth Leaders Programme that will be held in the UK. This event will be held in August 2016. The purpose of this event is to train young people to give them the core skills to make an impact in the UK, in addition to making an impact to the development of sustainable international development projects
• Required to attend meetings set up by RLSS Commonwealth whilst in Penang
• Required to contribute to the setup of a structured youth development group to support the succession plan of their branch