Staff at Calne Leisure Centre in Calne are making a splash to help prevent drowning, by hosting free taster sessions to introduce children to the water.

Using activities and resources provided by the Royal Life Saving Society UK (the UK’s national water safety and drowning prevention charity), Calne Leisure Centre is running fun and interactive water safety activities in conjunction with the Amateur Swimming Association criteria for children in their Aqualetes Swimming Academy.

Calne Leisure Centre will also be offering free taster sessions for children aged between three and 12 years who are not currently in swimming lessons.

These sessions will allow parents to gage their child’s swimming ability in a relaxed and friendly environment whilst learning some new skills. This is being run in support of Drowning Prevention Week. These sessions will take place on Thursday, June 26, from 3.30-5pm, and Saturday, June 28, from 9-10am.

The Drowning Prevention Week campaign, run by The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) aims to ensure everyone knows how to have fun and stay safe near water.

Bethan Laker, of Calne Leisure Centre, said: “Around 400 people drown in the UK each year, and thousands suffer life changing injuries due to near-drowning experiences.

"Shockingly drowning is the third highest cause of accidental death in children in the UK.

"We are pleased to have over 500 children already swimming in our Aqualetes Swimming Academy but are conscious that there are still children out there who cannot swim which makes this campaign extremely important”

“We are happy to support RLSS UK to reduce these numbers by informing swimmers about how to be safe near water, while offering what we think will be a really fun sessions for our customers.”

For more details about the sessions, contact Bethan Laker on 01249 819160 or email aqualetes@calneleisure.co.uk.

Drowning Prevention Week will see leisure centres and schools across the country holding activities to help raise awareness of how to be safe in, on or around water.

The campaign also encourages people to fundraise on behalf of the charity’s drowning prevention work, which includes support for families affected by drowning or near drowning.

Find out more at www.drowningpreventionweek.org.uk