Water safety project aims to educate more children

A community project in Exmouth, is aiming to teach more than 1,000 schoolchildren water safety at the seaside.

Sideshore Sea Safety was formed in 2022, when it said just one school and a handful of pupils visited the seafront area in East Devon. This year there would be 24 schools and hundreds of children taking the plunge.

Project manager Bernie Rhodes said: "It's brilliant for mental health and well being"

"It gets the kids outdoors and teaches them to be safe here and if they return with their parents, they'll know what to do if they get into trouble and and how to deal with it".

Sideshore also aimed to help children learn about protecting the environment and keeping it clean and tidy for future visitors and future generations.

Pupils were shown how much plastic waste was collected, and then used it to create artworks to promote the message of saving the oceans.

Ms Rhodes said: "We want them to leave here being advocates for the environment"

"The children will have learnt how to be safe and that they need to take their rubbish home with them, and not to litter the beach."

"They can then spread that message far and wide".

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