Harwich Haven Authority fund Swim Safe programme in Harwich for the fifth consecutive year

04 July 2024

Harwich Haven Authority will once again partner with Swim England and local swimming instructors to deliver a Sea Safety programme to the children of Harwich during July 2024.  

The free Swim Safe sessions are focused on teaching school-aged children how to stay safe and what to do if they get into difficulties in, on, or around open water.  Everyone between the ages of 7 and 14 years old, who can swim 25 metres unaided, is encouraged to take part.

Harwich Haven Authority has funded the area’s Swim Safe programme since 2019 to ensure local children have access to this invaluable, and potentially lifesaving, opportunity.

“We are committed to delivering the Swim Safe programme and since we started funding the programme in 2019, we estimate that more than 2,000 children have benefitted,” says Sarah West, Chief Executive, Harwich Haven Authority.

“As one of the UK’s largest trust ports and the statutory harbour authority for the area, our core remit is to ensure safety of navigation for vessels within our area of jurisdiction. Therefore, sea safety and teaching young people to be safe in open water very much aligns to that remit.

“With many people still choosing to holiday at home we expect local beaches to be busy during the school holiday, so I very much hope that local families will take advantage of the Free Swim Safe sessions.

“I am convinced the work Swim England is doing to educate young people through this programme will ultimately save lives.”

Ashley Jones, Swim England’s Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Manager, commented: “Sport England’s Active Lives Children and Young people Survey from December 2023, shows that numbers of younger primary school children who can swim 25 metres unaided is on the rise for the first time since the end of the Coronavirus pandemic.

“This is very positive news indeed, Swim Safe sessions provide children with a vital experience of applying those swimming and self -rescue skills they learn indoors in an outdoor environment where sadly too many lose their lives to drowning.

“We are immensely grateful to Harwich Haven Authority for their continued support and for once again funding the 2024 Swim Safe programme in Harwich.”

The public Swim Safe sessions are now available to book. Places are limited, so please book early – Harwich, Dovercourt Bay Beach – Swim Safe. For further information to www.swinsafe.org.uk.