Through the winter we run our RLSS approved lifesaving training programme:
- RLSS Rookie Lifeguard (for the groms age 7-15)
- RLSS Surf Coach Lifeguard award & RLSS NVBLQ (beach lifeguard) for 16+
Information on the courses can be found below.
RLSS Rookie Lifeguard Programme
Our popular rookies programme usually runs over the winter months in the Penzance Leisure Centre. The rookies programme offers the opportunity to follow a structured RLSS lifesaving skills programme, including Water Safety, Rescue, Self Rescue and Emergency Responses. The aims of Rookies is to:
- Teach Lifesaving Skills
- Increase Swimming Competence
- Develop Survival Skills in Water
- Develop Confidence, Initiative and Judgement
- Develop Teamwork and Leadership
There are 3 levels of awards: Bronze, Silver & Gold for the groms to work their way through. A great, fun way for the groms to learn essential skills to keep themselves (and others) safe in the water and at the end they receive an RLSS rookie lifeguard award (certificate, badge and sticker).
The course costs £35. Start & end date varies based on pool availability each year, but the course is typically 8-10 weeks in duration.
RLSS NVBLQ (Beach Lifeguard) Programme
New for 2023: The RLSS Surf Coach Lifeguard Award
Both of these Lifeguard training programmes are run by our RLSS trainer Justin. We welcome groms over 16 and adults onto the course. Bear in mind that these awards are quite demanding and do require a commitment in terms of time (both for the club and to achieve the award). These awards are also suitable for anyone doing Duke of Edinburgh!
The cost of the course is £150* which includes all your training, pool hire and the costs of assessment day. The only additional cost is your RLSS exam pack which is currently £46 for the NVBLQ & £26 for the surf coach lifeguard award. The typical cost of this award is £350+ so this is a great saving on the programme.
*For those who are currently actively volunteering with the club there will be a £100 training discount applied. If you are new to volunteering with the club we ask you pay the full amount but we will refund £50 a year for the 2 years your qualification is active assuming 10 weeks are volunteered with the club. This protects the club as there are quite a number of costs involved in running a programme like this and we need our lifeguards to attend sessions in order to enable the club to run!
About the course
Both training courses are run alongside each other, the Beach Lifeguard award consists of 40 hours of modules covering pool, beach, first aid and theory, and each training session will need to be signed off by both yourself and your trainer. Depending on your swimming ability you may need to swim outside of the training sessions in order to achieve the minimum pool swim time (400 metres in 8 minutes for NVBLQ & 300 metres in 8 minutes for the Surf Coach Lifeguard).
The course runs bi-annually with assessment usually towards the end of May. It is generally run over a series of evening sessions / weekend sessions to fit in with our volunteers other commitments. This tends to work better for our members than the standard format of external courses which are run as one intensive full week training course.
Our next course will be in 2025.
Qualified lifeguards are vital to the continuation of the club so please do consider giving it a go.