HEMEL HEMPSTEAD, UNITED KINGDOM–(Marketwire – July 28, 2010) – Already a leading provider of swimming lessons, Haven has teamed up with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution so youngsters can “Hit the Surf” in safety this summer.
Highly trained RNLI lifeguards will be running surf safety sessions on the beaches at three Haven holiday parks so kids aged eight to 12 can learn how to be safe in the water.
The free Hit The Surf sessions cover beach safety advice, the role of the lifeguard, what the beach safety flags mean and what children should do if they find themselves in trouble in the sea.
There’s also a lot of fun games and exercises both in and out of the sea, plus instruction in how to use a bodyboard safely and a chance to see some of the RNLI equipment, such as an inshore rescue, boat close-up.
The Hit The Surf sessions are being held at Golden Sands Holiday Park near Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire (August 2-5); Kiln Park Holiday Park, Tenby, South Wales (Aug 9-13); and Devon Cliffs Holiday Park, near Exmouth, Devon (Aug 16-20).
The RNLI initiative complements the charity’s annual beach safety campaign, which encourages families heading to the seaside to consider beaches with lifeguards when planning their family holidays.
The message will also reach thousands of families as RNLI On the Beach leaflets and Spot the Dangers activity sheets are being included in Haven’s Learn2Swim packs.
Haven, with 35 holiday parks, is one of the UK’s leading providers of swimming lessons through its highly acclaimed swimming programme.
This year swimming lessons are free on all Haven holiday parks along with many other activities.
Dave Gorman, the RNLI’s Divisional Beach Safety Manager, says the Hit the Surf programme gives children a unique and exciting opportunity to learn important safety lessons whilst having great fun.
He added Hit the Surf is especially important for children visiting the coast from inland areas, who are typically less familiar with the beach environment.
He added: ‘By linking in with Haven, we are reaching a wider audience. The charity will be running Hit the Surf sessions at both Devon Cliffs in Exmouth and Kiln Park in Tenby, Wales, which both have direct access to an RNLI lifeguarded beach.’
Naomi Woodstock, Haven’s PR, Charity and Sponsorship Manager, says: ‘The RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew and lifeguards do a fantastic job in keeping families around the coast safe all year round, particularly during the summer holidays. Haven Holidays is delighted to be able to work with the RNLI to help promote the charity’s vital safety messages to all of our customers, to ensure they all enjoy a safe and happy holiday.’
Holidays for families of up to six start at £529 in Standard self-catering accommodation at selected dates and holiday parks.
For more information visit www.haven.com.
Notes to editors
• A video of a Hit The Surf session can be seen on the RNLI’s YouTube site www.youtube.com/watch?v=40ciZok8JlY&feature=channel_page
• For more information on Haven Holidays, please visit www.haven.com
Media contacts
RNLI Public Relations: 01202 336789 or [email protected].
RNLI online: For more information on the RNLI please visit www.rnli.org.uk. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI Press Centre.
Key facts about the RNLI: The RNLI is the charity that 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 over 230 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and has more than 150 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK. 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 139,000 lives.
Visit the RNLI’s official YouTube channel for more films and follow our rescue stories on Twitter.
A charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number CHY 2678 in the Republic of Ireland.