Partner Article

School pupils promote safe swimming for towns residents

More than 600 pupils from schools in Barnsley have recently taken part in a campaign that highlights the dangers of water during the summer holidays.

34 schools in and around Barnsley embarked on a design competition, organised by leisure operators BPL, where young people from years one, two and three were tasked with designing a poster that depicts swim safety - featuring the BPL mascot Derek the Dolphin.

All the designs were obtained from the schools, BPL narrowed them down to one finalist from each school and the final winner was decided upon by the editorial team from The Barnsley Chronicle newspaper.

Olivia Guy, 7, from Ladywood Primary School was the overall winner and her design has been transformed into posters, free swim vouchers, bookmarks and certificates which will be distributed right across the Barnsley borough to raise awareness of swim safety for young people.

A BPL swim ambassador headed to Ladywood Primary with Derek to unveil Olivia’s winning artwork. The BPL team of swim ambassadors will also be heading into all other schools in the borough that entered - to educate young people of the dangers of water in the impending summer months.

Simon Ferrarelli, BPL corporate aquatics manager said: “Swim safety especially around the summer months is extremely important and if we can raise this awareness through a great competition that allows the winning design to be the visual for the campaign is perfect.

“We have had a great response from the schools in Barnsley since we launched the campaign four years ago - this year being the best by a long way!”

For more information about the BPL swim school please visit www.bpl.org.uk or call 01226 730060.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Levi Parol .