12 May, 2012
We’ve got loads of great courses lined up for this years Development Day on Saturday 12th May at East Brent Village Hall.
We are running:
Are you interested in one of the above courses? Or do you want to book your place on one of them? If so, click on the course link above to download more information and then complete the Development Day return form. If you would like to take part in one of the courses, please send all forms and cheques to Pat Harris BEFORE 1st May to allow us to order the course materials.
All those attending the courses should arrive at 11:15 on the 12th May at East Brent Village Hall. The AGM will take place prior to the courses. Light refreshments will be provided during the day, but you will need to bring a packed lunch.
The extra session originally stated to start at 10am will not be running – apologies for any inconvenience.
Branch AGM 2012-2013
The Branch AGM will also take place on the Development Day – please arrive for 11.15am. All Somerset members are invited to attend to hear about the work of the Branch in the last year, to vote for the new committee and to share your ideas about what you want from the Branch in the coming year.
If you would like to attend the AGM or are unable to, please let us know by completing the return form.
All of the Branch Committee Positions are up for election this year – all the AGM details and nomination form are available for download. If you wish to stand please complete the form and send it to the Hon. Secretary by Monday 23rd April 2012. More details on each role is available – download role descriptions and the Branch Constitution can be also be downloaded.
All Somerset Members will have received an invitation to the AGM via e-mail, or by post if you don’t have an e-mail. Members will receive an updated invitation approximately 3 weeks before the AGM detailing who has put themselves forward to stand for a position of the Branch Committee.
The Gloucestershire Branch are running their successful Senior Lifesaving/Lifeguarding competition on Saturday 14th April.
The competition is open to all from the Gloucestershire Branch. Each team will be made up of 4 competitors – a mix of males and females who will compete against other teams in a variety of events.
The entry form, rules, venue and timings will be published online, as soon as they are available. More details can be obtained from Nick Hatton.
11 April, 2012
The West Region Committee made up from members of the Avon and North Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Somerset Branch Committees will be meeting to discuss the regional action plan and plans for lifesaving in the West Region for the coming year.
If you have a suggestion on how to promote lifesaving or lifesaving sport, or want some help in running a course or event within the Region, please get in touch with Clive Holland, the West Region Chairman.
2 April, 2012
The Gloucestershire Branch Committee will be meeting on Monday 2nd April. The agenda and minutes of the last meeting will be distributed to committee members ahead of the meeting.
For those not on the committee, you can e-mail Katie Briggs if there is a topic you want to be discussed. Or do you have a grant application to make to the Branch? If so get in touch with Katie.
1 April, 2012
At the same time as the Survive and Save Instructor Course, the Gloucestershire Branch will be running a Rookie Instructor Course.
The course lasts for 1 day only and will cover the Lifesaving Skills and Teaching and Class Management Skills modules which make up the Rookie Instructor qualification.
The course is being run at Brockworth Sports Centre on Sunday 1st April. The course will start at 9.45am and finish at 6pm. Please bring your swimming kit, pens and paper. The course materials will be provided on the day along with lunch all for a cost of £40. You need to be 16 years or older to attend the course.
Please complete the registration form and send it to Katie Briggs with a cheque for £40 payable to “Glou RLSS”. If you have any questions or want more information, please contact Katie Briggs.
31 March, 2012
The RLSS has brought out a new Lifesaving Instructors qualification to accompany the new Survive and Save awards. Only qualified Lifesaving Instructors can teach and assess the Survive and Save awards. If you’d like to become a Lifesaving Instructorthen this is the course for you!
Format: The course is run over 2 days – the first day runs from 9.30am until 4pm and the second day runs from 9.45am until 6pm. Most of the time will be spent in the classroom, but on Sunday there will be 4 hours of practical pool time.
Pre-requisites: To attend the course you must be in current membership of the RLSS and hold a current Life Support 3 qualification or NPLQ.
Minimum Age: The minimum age to become a Lifesaving Instructor is 17 years old. Candidates who are aged 17 years old will only be able to train and assess the awards when another qualified Instructor is on the poolside (who is 18yrs+) until they become 18yrs old.
Bring: Course materials will be provided, but attendees will need to bring pens, a notepad, packed lunch and swimming kit (Sunday only).
Cost: The course cost is £60 – it covers all materials, pool costs, tuition and lunch on both days.
Booking: Booking is essential – complete the registration form and send it to Katie Briggs with a cheque for £60 payable to “Glos RLSS”. Please contact Katie Briggs for more information or to reserve your place.
Note for Existing Trainer Assessors (TAs): Existing TAs are welcome to attend the course. Or, if you prefer, existing TAs can also become Lifesaving Instructors by purchasing the Lifesaving Manual for Instructors from the Lifesavers Direct Website and completing the update online at www.surviveandsave.co.uk
12 March, 2012
Following the success of last year’s international youth exchange to Germany; I am pleased to report that we’ll be welcoming lifesavers from Kaufbeuren to the UK in August 2012. Sixteen youth members of the RLSS West Region will join sixteen young people from the DLRG (the German Lifesaving Association) for a week long programme of activities from 15-22 Aug 2012 inclusive.
The exchange will start in Bournemouth where we plan to spend a few days playing team-building games, learning beach lifeguard skills (including open-water swimming, beach sprints, lifeguard patrol skills and how to use specialised rescue equipment) and taking a tour of the RNLI’s training facility in Poole. We’ll then travel to Bristol, which will be our base for the second half of the week. We’ll spend time with each of the three branches that make up the RLSS West Region: sightseeing, getting to know each other, and taking part in lifesaving and cultural activities together.
The aims of the exchange are to:
- Learn about the work of RLSS UK, the RNLI and the DLRG.
- Develop international friendships and learn about life in Germany and the UK.
- Develop as lifesavers and as young adults.
UK participants will be directly involved in organising and planning every aspect of the exchange from fundraising to the programme of events. To help us to prepare, we’ll be running three planning days in the Bath/Bristol area on Sat 10 Mar, Sun 13 May and Sat 14 Jul (UK participants should make every effort to attend at least two of the planning days). We’ll also set up a Facebook group to allow the UK & German participants to get to know each other before the exchange.
The exchange is open to RLSS members from the West Region aged 14-18. The total cost of the exchange is £280 per person, which includes food, accommodation, travel, activities, and attendance at the training days in the UK before we depart. [Newsflash: The cost was putting some people off - so we've made some savings and found some additional funding, and we're now able to offer the exchange for just (or £220 if you want a hoody as well)]!
For more details, or to download an application form, see: www.rlsswest.org.uk/west-region/international-exchange.
3 March, 2012
Entries for the RLSS UK National Speed Championships 2012 close on the 16 Dec 2011. See http://rlssonline.com/index.php/lifesaving-sport/speeds-2012 for full details…
Entries for National Speed Championships are now open.
Venue: Pondsforge – Sheffield
Dates: 3rd & 4th March 2012
Closing date: 16th December 2011
5 February, 2012
RLSS West Region are running a Lifesaving Sport Workshop on Sunday 5th February starting at 12noon.
For those new to Lifesaving Sport, we will introduce you to Lifesaving Sport, the competitions, the West Region Virtual League and give you some tips on running sport in your Club. We will also talk you through some of the key Sport skills and give you the chance to practice them in the pool!
For those who have competed before, you can take part in the session above or you can practice some of your incident training skills, as individuals, pairs or teams! Then in the pool you can have a go at range of Sport events and set times for the new Virtual League!
Remember to bring some food for lunch, there will be light refreshments. Also bring your swimming kit as we head to the pool for an hour between 2.30pm and 3.30pm. Once we finish in the pool, that is the end of workshop.
So, if your new to Sport or an experienced competitor, there is something for you! Just get in touch to confirm your attendance or ask questions, by e-mailing alan@rlsswest.org.uk or phone Alan Sutherland on 07816 254 776.
Feel free to download our poster to display in your Club, Centre or Group – Lifesaving Sport Poster
18 January, 2012
RLSS West Region is running a very special event in January – the first Club Consultation evening for lifesavers. This is your chance to have YOUR say about what the Branch and Region does in 2012. We’d love to get at least 2 representatives from every club in the region to come along.
The evening is open to everyone, but we’d be especially pleased to welcome young lifesavers (all youth lifesavers who attend will receive a FREE Survive and Save goodie bag). The event will take place in the Folk Hall, Portishead from 7:30-9:30pm on Wed 18 Jan – please get in touch if you need a lift/can offer a lift and we’ll put you in touch with other people who are travelling from your area.
