We are The National Charity that trains and supports volunteers to save life and prevent drowning in open water.

Through our Club communities of highly trained volunteer lifesavers, we help to make beaches safer. Our most experienced lifesavers form voluntary Beach Patrols and Inshore Rescue Boat Teams declared to the Coast Guard, assist the Police with missing person searches and are members of our fast water Flood Rescue Teams.  

Our Surf Lifesaving Clubs educate young people starting at age 7 to keep themselves safe and to help others in difficulty. Advanced open water swimming and rescue skills together with learning about and resolving risks, teamwork and knowing how to save a life are enabling, never forgotten, life changing achievements. 

Our Club volunteer Trainers deliver over 4,000 Surf Lifesaving awards each year.  

Our Beach, Lifesaver and Surf Lifeguard training is to the highest National Vocational standards.   

Our Clubs are centres of lifesaving excellence open to all, across all age, gender and social networks, together enjoying the beach and the ocean.   

Our lifesaving community welcome all to the fitness, fun and thrill of knowing how to be at one and in total control with the elements.  

Everything we do is to be the best that we can for the benefit and safety of the communities that we serve. 

Nipper Pathway

The first interactive and exciting step to lifesaving for members aged 7-13 years old. It provides youngsters with the opportunity to make friends, have fun, become confident in the ocean and start mastering the skills and knowledge needed to keep themselves and friends safe at the beach. With Ocean star awards youngsters are rewarded as skills and confidence builds. Find out about the Nipper Pathway

Graduate Lifeguard Programme

A programme for 13-16 year olds focused on beach lifeguard skills and techniques. Through peer to peer activities, supporting community groups and offering water safety advice it provides the opportunity for participants to gain skills in not just lifesaving but leadership, problem solving, communication and delivering presentations too, all great additions for further education and future employment. Find out more about the Graduate Lifeguard Programme

Patrolling

People use beaches all year round and at any time of day. Our patrols operate at 5 levels and encourage community involvement. Declared to the coastguard we are able to operate our patrols all year round and at times of day where other operations such as RNLI are not active helping to keep beaches safer. The main purpose of our patrolling is prevention, but they are also trained to assist with rescues and searches. Find out more about our patrolling and how you can get involved

Flood Response Search & Rescue

With 200 fully trained volunteer flood rescue technicians and 5 flood search and rescue teams declared to FRSNCC and local resilience forums we are major contributor to flood search and rescue operations in the UK. Our own SAR training has independent accreditation allowing teams to fully integrate with the Emergency Service Command and Control system during flood emergencies. Read more

Life Saving Sport

A multi discipline aquatic sport that replicates and trains individuals with the skills required to save a life. Lifesaving sport develops and maintains confidence, fitness and the ability to be rescue ready. Read more

Whilst delivering and instilling water safety and prevention of drowning across all age groups, these activities help nurture an ethos centred around community engagement and support.

We are also proud to have a number of organisations supporting the work we do including; South West Water, Fisher Foundation, Awards4All, Scottish Electric.

Find out more about our current supporters and how to get involved