Thanks to Mark for the following update on what’s happening with Ventnor Lifeguards. Ed
Notice from the Beach Safety Group
We are pleased to present our volunteer and unpaid Lifeguard team; two are already experienced qualified lifeguards and three undertaking their training. This means we should have five professionally qualified lifeguards, in uniform, on Ventnor Beach this summer.
They will all be qualified to R.L.S.S. (Royal Life Saving Society) Beach Lifeguard standard, which is the body that awards the international qualification for Lifeguards and is to the same standard of the Councils paid Lifeguards, on Ryde, Sandown and Shanklin beaches.
Ventnor Beach Safety Group is now a recognised member of Lifesavers the Royal Life Saving Society UK. Our application to become a registered charity has also been submitted and charity status recognition is expected later this year.
We have a temporary base on the beach for this summer, provided by Jim Blake, however we are still working to raise funds and it is our intention to provide a permanent dedicated lifeguard station for Ventnor Seafront in the future.
We will have our lifeguards on the beach this summer, despite the earlier doubts of many.
However, unless the I.O.W. Council decide to fund the salaries for future lifeguards at Ventnor, the coveted ‘Blue Flag award‘? will still remain a long reach away. A shame, when all the other requirements for this award are being met and Ventnor, despite its popularity by tourists, is not viewed as worthy of public funding for expected safety standards of the 21st Century.
Pictured, left to right are: Duncan Kenny, Dave Gray (head lifeguard), Lucy Berry, Ben Amer and Michelle Wheatley. They are all local residents
