South West Water has selected the RNLI as one of its charitable partners for the next three years. The life-saving charity is set to benefit after members of staff voted to support the cause. A donation this year will support the charity’s education and engagement programmes across the region.

Education and prevention are very important parts of the RNLI’s work. The RNLI has several programmes, such as Meet the Lifeguards, where lifeguards visit local schools; Hit the Surf, where children learn practical life-saving skills at the beach; and Swim Safe, where youngsters learn open water swimming skills, as well as visits to schools and youth clubs by a large team of dedicated education volunteers.

Money donated from South West Water will go towards supporting these projects across the region this summer.

Sarah Beresford, RNLI youth education manager for the South West, says: ‘Their generous donation will support the RNLI to work with schools across the region this summer and educate around 8,500 young people about life-saving and how to stay safe by the coast.

‘Our education programmes are vital for teaching the next generation about safety and enable us to deliver important beach safety advice in a way that is both fun and informative. We hope that pupils can then take what they learn, share it with wider family and friends and use it to have fun in a safe way when they visit a beach.’

South West Water’s Head of Communications Alan Hyde said: ‘Under the theme of well-being, staff voted overwhelmingly to support the RNLI, whose volunteer lifeboat crews and lifeguards enable residents and visitors to enjoy our beautiful beaches safely. We are delighted to add the RNLI to our family of community and charity partnerships.’