Tag: lifeguards

RNLI celebrates lifeguards as charity marks 25 years of keeping beaches safer

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the RNLI Lifeguard Service, a lifeguard installation  is being installed in St Andrew Square today – Lifeguard Appreciation Day, (Friday  31st July 2026).

Launching in 2001, following a successful pilot scheme in South-West England, over over  245 beaches are now patrolled by RNLI lifeguards.  

RNLI lifeguards were first introduced in Scotland on Coldingham Bay in 2013, and the  team has been expanding ever since. They can now be found on 8 Scottish beaches throughout the summer season. 

Since the service began in Scotland, RNLI lifeguards have saved 8 lives, aided more  than 3,500 people, responded to over 2,400 incidents and carried out more than  560,000 preventative actions. 

RNLI lifeguards are best known for rescuing people in difficulty in the water, but much  of their work takes place before an incident ever develops.

Around 95% of a lifeguard’s  role is prevention, from advising swimmers about rip currents and changing conditions to helping families stay safe on the beach and reuniting lost children with their parents.  

Lachlan Edwards, Lead Lifeguard Supervisor, says: “International Lifeguard Day is an  opportunity to celebrate our fantastic and dedicated lifeguard team, both past and  present.  

“We have a team of around 40 lifeguards, including volunteer lifeguards, who help keep  the public safe and well informed. They not only work across our eight beaches,  providing casualty care, support and carrying out rescues, they also work in local  primary schools and help educate communities on water safety at events throughout  the year.  

“Having been part of the team since 2015 I have seen first-hand how the service in  Scotland has grown and the impact our lifeguards have had is remarkable. We look  forward to growing the team further and continuing to provide this lifesaving service.”

Owen McQueenie is a senior lifeguard who joined the service in 2019, inspired by his  dad, Martin, and older sister, Tamsin, who were both RNLI lifeguards.

 Owen says: ‘Being part of the lifeguard team is incredibly rewarding. I have always  loved being in and around the water and surfing with my family, so being able to do this  as a job, while helping to protect the public is really awesome. 

‘I was inspired by my dad and sister to get involved with the RNLI lifeguard team. It’s  great to work in the same field as my family and be able to share our experiences after  our shifts. They were a huge support when I became a senior lifeguard, and I’m proud  to follow in their footsteps.’ 

Owen recently assisted two girls who were caught by the wind on their paddleboard at  Coldingham Bay and safely guided them back to the shore.  

As families continue to enjoy the coast this summer, the RNLI is encouraging people to  choose a lifeguarded beach whenever possible and to swim between the red and  yellow flags.  

To find your nearest RNLI lifeguarded beach, visit rnli.org/lifeguardedbeach.

Edinburgh Leisure Recruitment Open Day at Royal Commonwealth Pool

Lifeguard/Leisure Attendant Recruitment Open Day

On 16th January, we’re hosting a recruitment open day at the Royal Commonwealth Pool and we’re inviting you to apply! No experience required, we’ll support you through your qualifications.

Find out more https://tinyurl.com/37j4wtdp

Lifeguard/Leisure Attendant Recruitment Open Day

Lifeguard/Leisure Attendant Recruitment Open Day

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On Tuesday 12th September, we’re hosting a recruitment open day at the Royal Commonwealth Pool. With full and part time positions available, there’s a role for everyone!

Find out more information here https://tinyurl.com/37j4wtdp

Ever considered a sporting career? Open Day being held for lifeguards

As the historic Warrender Swim Centre prepares to reopen its doors to the public once again after two years of renovations, Edinburgh Leisure is holding a recruitment open day and is searching for people who are ready to dive into a new opportunity.

The Open Day is being held at the Royal Commonwealth Pool on Monday, 26th September from 11am – 7pm and they are looking for a new team of lifeguards.

Brian King, Manager of Warrender Swim Centre explained: “The open day is a great opportunity for prospective candidates to find out more about a career with Edinburgh Leisure, the role of a lifeguard first hand from our team, and how to apply quickly and easily for the role. You’ll need to be a good swimmer, but we can offer either full or part-time work and great career prospects.”

Prospective candidates attending will be registered on our applicant system and once registered, they’ll undertake a short competency-based interview and need to complete a water test. 

If the interview is successful, appointed candidates would be required to apply for a PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) certificate. Interested candidates should visit the Edinburgh Leisure website or drop into the Royal Commonwealth Pool between 11am – 7 pm on 26th September.

As a charity, Edinburgh Leisure is dedicated to keeping people in Edinburgh active, and over 5 million annual visits are made to their 50 venues, which includes leisure centres, swimming pools, golf courses and the UK’s biggest indoor climbing wall.

But they’re more than their venues.  Each year their Active Communities programme uses the power of physical activity and sport to support over 10,000 people affected by disabilities, health conditions, poverty, and inequalities to improve their health and wellbeing.

Making a positive impact on people’s health and wellbeing is at the heart of what Edinburgh Leisure does and it takes a big team to deliver this ambition with everyone playing their part. 

As an employer, they pride themselves on providing a supportive and enjoyable work environment that their team are proud to be a part of.  They offer a generous rewards package, staff discount scheme and the option to join their Group Personal Pension Fund.

If you have what it takes for a career with Edinburgh Leisure, they will support you with the necessary training and support to have a long and fulfilling career.

For more information:   https://www.edinburghleisure.co.uk/careers/open-days

Life’s a beach!

The transition from Pool Lifeguard to Beach Lifeguard

As we head towards the summer are you looking for a new challenge? Pool lifeguards have a unique opportunity to upskill to become a beach lifeguard and gain invaluable skills for life. 

As an island, the UK has miles and miles of beautiful coastline, and every year people flock to our beaches to enjoy the sea, surf, and sometimes the sun! With more Britons holidaying in the UK, our beaches are more popular than ever, which means the role of the beach lifeguard has never been more important!  

If you’re a pool lifeguard and enjoy the great outdoors as well as being part of a tight-knit team, then a beach lifeguard could be the job for you during the summer season! The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is looking for recruits to spend the summer working on some of the most popular beaches in the UK.  

Read on to discover how you can transition from pool to beach lifeguard and set yourself up for your most fun and rewarding summer yet!  

Why become a beach lifeguard? 

RNLI lifeguards patrol more than 240 beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. They play an essential role in supporting the RNLI to reduce the number of people who drown at the coast, as well as helping to keep people safe by providing essential local safety advice to the thousands of holidaymakers who visit our coastline every summer. To give you some idea of the scale of the work involved, RNLI lifeguards helped more than 25,172 people in 2020 alone.  

“We welcome applications from RLSS UK National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) holders. In our experience, the training and experience these highly qualified professionals have already achieved give them the knowledge and skills needed to transition efficiently to beach lifeguards, to protect thousands of beachgoers,” says Peter Dawes, General Manager Lifeguard Operation, RNLI. 

The work is rewarding and challenging, and no two days are ever the same. 

“The best thing about being a beach lifeguard is being outside and having the opportunity to meet interesting people while reassuring visitors and sharing safety messaging,” says Jo Thompson, RLSS UK’s Events and Accreditation Manager and former beach lifeguard supervisor.  

Ninety-five per cent of a lifeguard’s work is preventative. They monitor sea conditions, set up the appropriate flags, watch people on the beach, and offer safety advice. 

“With most seasons starting in May and finishing by September, a beach lifeguard is the perfect job for university students to help fund their studies. It’s also great for fitting around other commitments. I know of a mum who would work a few days a week every season while her sons were young. Now that they are older, she is a full time beach lifeguard,” added Jo. 

Through the RLSS UK’s National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (NVBLQ), you will receive world-class training in search and rescue, lifesaving and casualty care techniques, good rates of pay, and the chance to develop valuable skills for a future career. And as an internationally recognised qualification, you can work all over the world. 

How do I upskill to be a beach lifeguard? 

The NVBLQ is the national standard for beach lifeguarding and endorsed by the National Water Safety Forum as well as the RNLI. The NVBLQ gives candidates the skills and knowledge to protect the public at the beach – which is why it is the leading qualification for pool lifeguards who want to work on UK beaches. 

The course covers beach lifeguard theory, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid, and sea skills. It lasts a minimum of 40-hours and is physically demanding, including swimming to set times. The NVBLQ has four modules, and you have to pass all of these to receive the qualification. 

Pool lifeguards with an existing NPLQ qualification can show evidence of prior achievement (from their NPLQ), which means they are exempt from some sections of the NVBLQ course (a maximum of 12 hours accreditation for prior learning may be claimed), allowing them to complete it more quickly.  

Your NVBLQ is then valid for two years from the completion date.  

Click here to find out more about the NVBLQ. 

Find a course 

With summer on its way, recruitment is now open for the RNLI’s 2022 lifeguard team. If you’d like to be part of this critical lifesaving service – helping to prevent incidents and rescuing those in difficulty, book yourself onto a NVBLQ today. 

Become a beach lifeguard and put yourself on the frontline of lifesaving to make this a summer to remember.