With ‘RLSS UK’s Drowning Prevention Week‘ starting on the 14th June it highlights the importance of staying safe whilst swimming, in addition to the health and fitness benefits and the fun to be had as a family.

More than 300 people accidentally drown in the UK every year, with 56 under the age of 11 drowning in the last 5 years. Obviously, the safest place to swim is in a swimming pool where lifeguards are present, but whether in a pool or at the beach the guidelines centre around swimming somewhere safe, following pool/beach guidance, swimming with a friend or family member and knowing what to do in an emergency.

What can you do to keep you and your family safe?

• Make sure the whole family can swim
• Know where is safe to swim, know the environment and potential hazards
• Read the warnings and guidelines
• Swim together

Life Leisure’s world class swimming programme, Stockport Metro, are committed to providing an opportunity for every child in Stockport to learn to swim safely. Stockport Metro are supporting RLSS UK’s Drowning Prevention Campaign, running from 14-24 June, to help put water safety at the forefront of everyone’s mind in the lead up to summer, a high-risk time of year for drowning.

Stockport Metro are also offering holiday courses over August for non swimmers aged 4-11 years. *Non swimmers are those unable to swim 5m unaided. Sessions are only £1 per ½ hour lesson and will take place for 5 consecutive days (£5 for the week). This offer is available during August at Life Leisure Grand Central, Avondale and Cheadle and it’s only bookable during Drowning Prevention Week (14-24 June). To access this opportunity parents/guardians need to:

• Choose their preferred week for attending the session(s):

29th July – 2nd August
5th August – 9th August
12th August – 16th August
19th August – 23rd August
27th August – 30th August (4 days)

• Contact their preferred centre

Life Leisure Grand Central 0161 474 7766
Life Leisure Avondale 0161 477 4242
Life Leisure Cheadle 0161 428 3216

• Book and pay during National Drowning Prevention week (14th – 24th June) to secure a place.

Payments can be made in centre or over the phone. Places are offered on a first come, first served basis and are therefore subject to availability.

Stockport Metro also have free Rookie lifeguard swimming lesson trials for 25m swimmers, happy in deep water and underwater. This offer is available during Drowning Prevention week at Life Leisure Grand Central, Avondale and Romiley. To access this opportunity parents/guardians need to:

• Contact their preferred centre

Life Leisure Grand Central 0161 474 7766 Saturday 22nd June 1pm-1.45pm
Life Leisure Avondale 0161 477 4242 Thursday 20th June 7.15pm-8pm
Life Leisure Romiley 0161 430 3437 Thursday 20th June 6.15pm-7pm

Stockport Metro, is a fully inclusive world-class swimming programme, running lessons for all ages from infants to adults and all swimming abilities from non-swimmers to Olympic hopefuls at five Life Leisure centres across Stockport.

If you would like to learn to swim, train for an event or take your swimming to the next level why not contact us at Stockport Metro?