A CAMPAIGN to promote Drowning Prevention Week is underway at Chepstow Leisure Centre.

The centre has teamed up with the South Wales Fire Service, Severn

Area Rescue Association (SARA) and local police to ensure everyone knows how to have fun and stay safe near water.

The national campaign ends this Sunday (June 26) and is run by the UK’s drowning prevention charity, the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK).

Chepstow Leisure Centre has been running a week of activities during children’s swimming lessons and delivering vital safety information to local primary schools to cut preventable deaths.

Chepstow’s fire service station manager, Steve Cooper said: “Around 400 people needlessly die from drowning in the UK every year and thousands more suffer injury, some life-changing, through near-drowning experiences. 

“We are proud to be supporting RLSS UK’s Drowning Prevention Week by informing adults and children how to stay safe near water, while offering a fun set of lessons for children. We want people to stay safe in Monmouthshire and beyond. By supporting the campaign we are doing our very best to give people vital skills that can save lives."

Chepstow Leisure Centre manager, Helen Dymond, added: “We are hoping to raise money for RLSS UK’s campaign and SARA is holding an open day on Sunday, June 26 from 11am to 4pm at Beachley’s lifeboat and mountain rescue centre.”

To support RLSS UK’s wider drowning prevention work, which includes providing support for families affected by drowning or near drowning, people can donate by texting DRPW16 with the donation amount to 70070.