The Rookie Lifeguard Programme

Scottish Swimming is delighted to announce a new partnership with the RLSS, which we hope will result in thousands of children across Scotland being keen to learn how to become lifesavers.

The Rookie Lifeguard Programme is being launched as part of Scottish Swimming’s Learn to Swim Development Pathway. The Rookie Lifeguard programme is aimed primarily at children from eight years old and above. The course, which has been designed by water safety specialists at RLSS UK, is designed to ensure that every child in the country learns essential water safety skills to keep themselves safe, and to become knowledgeable of what to do in an emergency.

The programme features swimming and lifesaving skills supported by water safety education, allowing participants to enjoy swimming as an activity and, vitally, to protect their lives should an accident occur in or out of the water.

Adrian Lole, RLSS UK Lead Officer for Child Safeguarding and Director of Development commented,

“I am really pleased to support this partnership with Scottish Swimming, helping to ensure all our children are competent and safe in the water. We know that children are attracted to water, and our job as aquatic lesson providers is to help keep them safe as they enjoy the experience. Being able to swim and knowing what to do if someone needs help are Life Skills that everyone should have.”

Rookie Bolt-on Awards
The Rookie Bolt-on Awards offer a wide variety of additionalskills, wet and dry, that Rookies can achieve to push themselves further to provide encouragement between the core awards.

They can be taken at any time during a Rookie’s progression through the core awards and there are no limits as to how many a Rookie can take during their programme.

Rookie Bolt-on Awards currently include: Beach Activities, Communication, Paddle Board and Assistant Beach Lifeguard Awards with others such as; Fin Swimming, Snorkelling, Lifesaving Sport, Beach Sport, First Aid, Equipment and Diving all being developed and prepared for the Rookie Instructors and Rookies to be able to undertake throughout the Rookie programme.

All of the Bolt-on Awards come with a guidance page advising who can train the Awards, when the Rookies can take the Awards, information on Risk Assessments, suitable equipment for the Awards and other available resources that may be useful for the training of the Award.

The skills cards also give all the required information about what the Rookies need to know and an Awards Card from which the Rookies can be assessed.

If you want to find out more about the Rookie Lifeguard programme (including how to become a Rookie Instructor or how to start a new Rookie Lifeguard programme):

Check out the Rookie Lifeguard website: www.lifesavers.org.uk/rookie

• Contact the RLSS direct at:

Royal Life Saving Society (UK)

River House, High Street,

Broom, Alcester,

Warwickshire B50 4HN

T: 01789 773994

F: 01789 773995

E: rookies@rlss.org.uk