The forum is a voluntary association of organisations (including RLSS UK) that has a wide variety of interests and responsibilities for water safety including sports governing bodies, rescue services, regulators, navigation and harbour authorities, local government, utilities and other representative groups.

The forum is a coalition of organisations including the RNLI, the Royal Life Saving Society UK and others, all dedicated to reducing the number of accidental drownings in the UK and Ireland.

The forum has published its UK Drowning Prevention Strategy, developed in response to a call from the World Health Organisation, for every country to have its own drowning prevention plan.

The first plan of its kind, the strategy aims to reduce accidental drowning fatalities by 50 per cent by 2026 and reduce risks among the highest-risk populations, groups and communities.