Funding rescues surf rescue club

10:52am Friday 25th July 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

The future of an innovative Pembrokeshire beach rescue club has been secured, thanks to a new grant.

Broad Haven School's Beach Rescue Club has received £7,000 over three years from the Community Focus Schools Fund run by Pembrokeshire County Council.

The money will continue to enable youngsters from both the coastal primary school and Tasker Milward Secondary School to learn vital beach rescue skills.

"We are very grateful for this new funding," said Broad Haven School Headteacher, Simon Thomas. "Without the funding it would be difficult to continue in the long term.

"This would have been very disappointing as it is vital that young people who live near the coast are safety conscious."

The out-of-school Beach Rescue Club - believed to be the only one of its kind in Wales - is now being run by two parents - Sue Christopher and Peter Ward-Sime along with teacher, Debbie Phillips.

It meets every Thursday after school and, as well as being made aware of their own personal safety, the youngsters are also taught first aid and how to rescue others.

The 10 to 13 year olds follow the NARS Cross scheme run by the Swimming Teachers Association (STA) which enables them to work towards Bronze Silver and Gold Cross surf life saving awards.

In recent months the running of the club has been taken over by local parents with input from Pembrokeshire County Council's out-of-school hours unit and the RNLI.

Councillor Huw George, Cabinet member for Children and Young People, said the Council was pleased to help such an innovative club.

"It is important that children learn about safety in and around their locality and share this with others," he said.