The Teddington Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is encouraging the importance of swimming lessons for children and supporting its partner's Swim England's "Swim Safe" programme which will be relaunched this summer.

This initiative teaches children aged 7-14, who can swim 25m unaided, essential water safety skills and how to swim safely in open water.

Swim Safe aims to educate children on water safety, floating techniques, and emergency procedures, ultimately reducing the number of water-related incidents.

The programme offers sessions led by qualified lifeguards and instructors.

Children who join the programme will learn vital skills, such as:

Floating: Tilt your head back with ears submerged, relax, and control your breathing.

Water Safety: Understand how to stay safe in and around open water.

Emergency Procedures: Know what to do if you or someone else gets into trouble.

The RNLI and Swim England have partnered with the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) to deliver additional Swim Safe sessions, targeting 30,000 more children.

Since its launch in 2013, Swim Safe has taught over 175,000 children vital lifesaving skills, with many more sessions planned for the future.

The RNLI's involvement in Swim Safe demonstrates its commitment to promoting water safety and reducing the risk of water-related accidents among children.

Richmond Council is also highlighting the importance of swimming lessons for children.

New research from Swim England shows that 70% of children in England stop swimming lessons before reaching full competence in the water, however Richmond Council is determined to change this trend by offering free crash courses to those who need them most. 

As the only borough that spans both sides of the River Thames, it is especially important that children in Richmond upon Thames develop water confidence and competence. 

Richmond Council launched the Summer Splash programme last year, ensuring that no child in the borough is excluded from learning to swim due to financial reasons.

Over the summer holidays, more than 110 children took part in free crash courses, with 89% completing the programme at Pools on the Park and 96% at Teddington Pools.

The free Summer Splash crash courses are available to children in school years 5, 6, and 7 who have not yet met the KS2 requirement to swim 25 metres confidently and perform safe self-rescue.

Councillor Alan Juriansz, Vice-Chair of the Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sports Committee and Lead Member for Sport said: "Every child deserves the opportunity to learn to swim, regardless of their financial situation.

"Swimming is not only a great way to stay active and healthy, but an essential life-saving skill.

"With the River Thames flowing through the heart of our borough, we are proud that our children and young people are defying the national trend, but we know there is more work to be done which is why we will once again be offering free crash courses over the summer holidays."

Details of the 2025 Summer Splash programme will be available next month but, in the meantime, residents can explore other Swim School lessons as well as general swimming, lane swimming and family swims options.

Richmond upon Thames' children and young people are the most active in England. 

According to the latest Active Lives survey, 62.1% of young people in the borough meet the Chief Medical Officer's guideline of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily – significantly higher than the national average of 47.2%.

 Councillor Juriansz added: "Our Summer Splash programme is just one way we are making our leisure services more inclusive and accessible."