RNLI and Girlguiding North East launch partnership for water safety education

On Wednesday 1 May 2024, Bridlington RNLI was chosen as the venue to launch a new partnership with the Girlguiding in the North East England. The partnership aims to teach young girls how to stay safe in, on and around water, and what better day to launch the initiative than on the first day of the RNLI May Day appeal.

Simon Bristow, RNLI Water Safety Education Manager for the area who led the event said: ‘We know that educating young people about water safety is fundamental to saving lives and is a core part of the RNLI’s prevention work. The more young people we can reach with our water safety messages, the more lives we can save now and in the future.’

Not only were the Bridlington RNLI joined by local members of the Rainbow and Brownie groups, but the volunteer crew put on some fun tasks for the youngsters as well as having a tour of the station, after two inspirational speakers joined the launch event. Volunteer crew of the Bridlington RNLI addressed the youngsters and gave them an introduction to the lifeboat station to start the evening off, this was followed by a couple of inspirational guest speakers.

First to speak was the adventurer Jasmin Harrison, who is a double World Record Holder, as the youngest women to row the Atlantic solo and the only woman to swim the full length of the British Isles. Not content with that, this December she will be setting off on a solo trip on her yacht around the world. Jasmin enthralled the audience with her adventures and the importance of learning to swim along with some awesome photographs of her journeys.

Next to the floor was the RNLI’s own Anna Heslop who, at the age of 17, was the first female crew to join the RNLI at her local station at Cullercoats. Since joining as a complete novice, Anna is now the first female Helm at the station, and was instrumental in reviving a baby who has stopped breathing on a shout a few years ago. Anna spoke about her full journey from how she joined to all the opportunities and skills the RNLI has given her, along with lifesaving skills and again, she emphasised the importance of learning to swim.

In the RNLI’s bicentennial year, and with the drive to ‘Inspire’ future crews around the organisation, it is hoped at least some of the girls in attendance will go on to become future crew with the RNLI and carry on the long tradition of the RNLI saving lives at sea.

RNLI Media contacts

For more information, please contact Mike Milner, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer: [email protected] or call:07751-054052.

Girlguiding North East Contact.

Helen Campbell, Marketing and Communications Officer, [email protected]

Photo credits:

Photography: RNLI/Mike Milner

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The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.

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