Hundreds of children earned vital water safety skills after this year’s free Swim Safe sessions on Tendring’s coastline saw a major increase in numbers.

A total of 463 children took part in public sessions, alongside 74 pupils through school sessions, meaning more than 530 young people benefited from the programme this summer.

The figures mark a significant rise on last year, when 309 children attended public sessions and 14 pupils took part through schools.

The national programme, created by Swim England and the RNLI, gives children aged seven to 14 practical water safety advice and in-water tuition at outdoor locations, teaching them how swimming in the sea differs from swimming in a pool and what to do if they or someone else gets into difficulty.

Tendring District Council (TDC) supported Swim Safe in Clacton, while Harwich Haven Authority funded sessions in Harwich. TDC also provided swimming teachers and Beach Patrol lifeguards to help deliver the sessions locally.

Councillor Mick Barry, TDC Cabinet Member for Leisure and Public Realm, said: “It is fantastic to see so many children taking part in Swim Safe this year and learning skills that could make a real difference when they are enjoying the coast.

“These numbers show just how important the programme is for local families, and it is especially pleasing to see such a strong increase in both the public sessions and school sessions compared with last year.

“We are proud to support this partnership work with Swim England, the RNLI, Harwich Haven Authority and our local teams, because helping young people understand the risks of open water is a key part of keeping people safe on our coastline.

“After such a successful year, we want to build on this momentum and help even more children benefit from Swim Safe in 2027.”

Each Swim Safe session lasted around an hour and included land-based safety advice and up to 30 minutes of in-water tuition with qualified instructors. Children taking part had to be able to swim 25 metres unaided, with a parent, guardian or responsible adult present throughout the session.

Anyone visiting the coast is reminded to follow beach safety advice, pay attention to flags and signage, avoid swimming near piers, groynes and rocks, and never enter the water under the influence of alcohol. In an emergency, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

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