GLL supports Drowning Prevention Week across Lincolnshire leisure centres
On average, over the last five years, 723 people drowned in the UK and Ireland each year, with 71% of child drownings happening between May and August, according to the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK).
To help raise awareness and promote water safety, GLL – the social enterprise that runs swimming facilities in Lincolnshire, including Sleaford Leisure Centre in North Kesteven and Yarborough Leisure Centre in Lincoln – is supporting RLSS UK’s Drowning Prevention Week, which runs from 13-20 June 2026.
GLL operates swimming pools and leisure centres across the UK under the 'Better' brand.
As part of Drowning Prevention Week, Better Swim School sessions, school swimming lessons, and school assemblies at Sleaford Leisure Centre and Yarborough Leisure Centre are focused on giving children and young adults the knowledge they need to stay safe around water.
Activities at Sleaford Leisure Centre include clothes swimming for all ages and abilities, helping participants understand how much more difficult it is to swim and float while fully clothed, alongside lessons on the Water Safety Code, beach flags and the Float to Live campaign.
As well as school sessions that include the RLSS UK lesson plans, at Sleaford Leisure Centre children can also take part in a water safety colouring competition for the chance to win a free family fun swim and a one-to-one swimming lesson.
Rosanna Abbott, GLL’s Area Swim School Lead for North Kesteven, said: “We are proud to play our part in ensuring families across Lincolnshire stay safe this summer and are urging parents to access the free water safety resources available on the RLSS website.”
You can find the RLSS UK resources here: www.rlss.org.uk/dpw
Ashley Jones, Head of Water Safety Education at RLSS UK, commented: “We are grateful to GLL for their support in amplifying Drowning Prevention Week's key water safety messages nationwide. By working together, we can all help create communities free from drowning. The Water Safety Code is designed to be simple, clear, and easy to remember, equipping people, especially young children and teenagers, with the knowledge they need to stay safe around water, as well as the confidence to make vital early decisions and save lives in an emergency.”
Chris Hipkiss, GLL General Manager at Yarborough Leisure Centre, said: “Wherever you are swimming, being able to enjoy the water whilst also knowing what to do in an emergency is, we believe, an essential life skill.”
Whenever you are around water:
Stop and Think - Assess your surroundings. Look for the dangers, Always research local signs and advice.
Stay Together - Always go with friends or family. Swim at a lifeguarded venue.
In an emergency:
Call 999 - Don’t enter the water to rescue.
Float - Float on your back and call for help. Throw something that floats to somebody that has fallen in.
As a social enterprise, GLL offers concessionary swim school memberships, and all swim school memberships include access to other swimming sessions. More information is available at: Concessionary Membership | Gym, Swim & Classes | Better