Young people in North East Fife offered aquatic vocational skills

Thanks to local partnership working, youngsters from Bell Baxter High School and Madras College have completed vocational training which will see them qualify as lifeguards and swim teachers.

We, along with East Fife Sports Council, Cupar District Swim Club and Active Schools has hosted a programme which gives local school pupils the chance to gain lifeguard and swim teacher qualifications funded by the Rural Fife Development Fund.

Local pupils were asked to apply for the training opportunities and then go through an interview process. The funding allowed for 24 students to take part in National Pool Lifeguard Qualification and Scottish Swimming Teacher Qualification supported by Scottish Swimming, the national governing board for swimming.

Emma Walker, chief executive of Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, said: “This programme delivered over the summer demonstrates the positive results from partnership working by local organisations.

“The offer was made to Bell Baxter High School and Madras College students – so far, four new members of staff have been recruited with additional candidates going through the recruitment process – this is a fantastic outcome given the nation-wide shortage of qualified swim teachers and lifeguards. The response from local students has been fantastic and I would like to congratulate them for their efforts”