ASC Portsmouth hosts SwimSafe Media Day 

Andrew Simpson Centre Portsmouth was delighted to host representatives from Swim England, RYA and the RNLI this week, along with various media outlets, as a SwimSafe session for students from Priory School was held. 

The RNLI supports 18,000 young people a year through their SwimSafe programme, with sessions teaching young people about how to be safe in and around open water. Thanks to a new partnership between the RYA and RNLI, SwimSafe is now set to be up taken by an additional 30,000 young people each year, through the RYA’s OnBoard programme. 

SwimSafe’s a fabulous free programme for 7–14-year-olds, ran throughout the country every year, and it’s a really good way of learning how to get in the water, how water works, and some very important water safety tips at the same time. 

James Woodhouse, Water Safety Education Manager for RNLI

During Priory School’s visit to ASC Portsmouth, the young people took part in a SwimSafe session, followed by a sailing session synonymous to the first RYA OnBoard session. This demonstrated the value of combining both sessions to improve the OnBoard pathway. 

We’re delighted to be involved with Swim Safe and to see clubs and centres delivering these sessions to youngsters as part of sailing and windsurfing lessons. Not only does Swim Safe save lives at sea but it helps to build water confidence, which we know is a barrier faced by many young people across the UK

RYA OnBoard Manager, Hannah Cockle

All Andrew Simpson Centres are SwimSafe delivery locations, with sessions available to be part of any group booking.   

SwimSafe is a fantastic programme to be able to offer at our centre, teaching young people in our island city invaluable life skills. If you’re interested in a SwimSafe session as part of your group’s activity at the centre, please get in touch.

Sam Weeks, Sales and Marketing Officer at ASC Portsmouth

by Jacob Tyson, Social Media & PR Coordinator for the Andrew Simpson Foundation and Andrew Simpson Centres