As the summer holidays approach and warm weather continues, Nottingham City Council is launching its ‘Get Safe for Summer’ campaign to help keep children safe around water.
Every year, unsupervised open water poses serious risks – especially to children. While lakes, rivers, and canals may look inviting, they can hide dangers like strong currents, cold water shock, and hidden objects beneath the surface.
To tackle this, the Council is working in partnership with Broxtowe Borough Council, the Open Water Education Network (OWEN) and Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service to raise awareness and equip young people with lifesaving water safety skills.
On Thursday 18 July, pupils from St Augustine’s Roman Catholic Primary and Heathfield Primary will join the Council’s School Swimming Service at Old Market Square beach for a special ‘Get Safe for Summer’ event. The session aims to educate young people on the dangers of open water and how to stay safe during the holidays.
The ‘Get Safe for Summer’ event will include hands-on activities such as:
- Games highlighting common water hazards
- Demonstrations of the Float to Live technique
- Use of throw lines for safe rescues
- A quiz to test knowledge
- Free play to engage children in a fun, memorable way
Parents and carers are also encouraged to speak with their children about water safety, reinforcing the key messages from the session and helping to ensure these vital lessons stay front of mind throughout the summer.
Nottingham’s School Swimming Service has already made strides, increasing National Curriculum attainment from 30% to 53% over five years – well above the average for similar cities (42%). The service ensures every lesson includes self-rescue and water safety education, with further support from national campaigns such as Drowning Prevention Week, Be Water Aware, and the Float to Live initiative.
This work is more important than ever – according to the 2023–24 Active Lives Children and Young People Survey, 30% of Year 7 pupils nationally are unable to swim 25 metres, a worrying figure that underlines the need for early and consistent water safety education.
A special guest on the day will be Nicola Jenkins, founder of OWEN, who tragically lost her teenage son Owen when he drowned in the River Trent while trying to help others. She will share her story and provide training on using throw lines in an emergency.
“Had my son Owen and his friends been educated about open water, its dangers, and what to do in an emergency, he may still be here today,” said Nicola.
Cllr Cheryl Barnard, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education said: “Nottingham City Council is a proud member of the Nottinghamshire Water Safety Group, a multi-agency partnership working to reduce drowning across the region by promoting safety, education, and lifesaving.
“The Get Safe for Summer campaign is another fantastic example of Nottingham’s commitment to giving children the knowledge and confidence to enjoy water safely – this summer and beyond.”
Chief Executive of Broxtowe Borough Council Ruth Hyde OBE said: “The Nottinghamshire Water Safety Partnership works hard to ensure residents in our area enjoy open water areas and are safe around and in them.
“Always swim in safe place. Always swim with an adult. If you fall in, float, breathe, relax. If someone else is in trouble call 999/112”.
