The Royal Life Saving Society An International Lifesaving Partner

Clive Holland

Deputy Commonwealth President

Presentation Overview

• RLSS – A proud history

• Principles of working in partnership

• Experiences from the field

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

What is the Commonwealth?

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

What is RLSS Commonwealth?

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

An Historical Snapshot

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

1891

•Life Saving Society founded by William Henry

1892

•Bronze Medallion introduced

1924

•Society incorporated by Royal Charter

1955

•National Branches established

1991

•First Commonwealth Lifesaving Sport Championships held

2011

•Bangladesh, Pakistan & Tanzania become the most recent branches

2011

•Received Civil Society recognition

Present

•28 Member Branches supporting 40 countries, nations and territories in the Commonwealth

Society Motto

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

Quemcunque Miserum Videris Hominem Scias

Whomsoever you see in distress, recognise in them a fellow human being

Society Mission

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

Society Vision

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

• We empower people and communities to prevent drowning.

• We use lifesaving sport to engage youth in the drowning prevention mission.

• We are a valued partner and significant contributor to drowning prevention, lifesaving and lifesaving sport.

• We contribute to the achievement of Commonwealth Priorities.

Society Values

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

Consistent with the Society’s Motto and Commonwealth Principles

RLSS believes in:

- Respect for human life

- Equity, diversity, inclusiveness

- Friendship

Society Goals

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

• Financial resources to achieve the Society’s strategic goals

• Community based drowning prevention a priority in every Commonwealth country

• A Development Model to guide capacity building across RLSS in place

Society Goals

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

• A mutually valued partnership and an effective, collaborative working relationship with ILS

• The link between lifesaving and sport is evident to participants, the public and media as evidenced by research.

RLSS – What We Do

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

We, on behalf of and in support of our Members,

– Advocate

– Build capacity

– Collaborate

Lifesaving in our Communities

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

Our Member Branches work at the community level to reduce drowning through:

• Research drowning and aquatic emergencies to inform practice

• Targeted community-based Drowning Prevention projects

• Training the community and professionals in Lifesaving skills for prevention & emergency response

Lifesaving in our Communities

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

Our Member Branches work at the community level to reduce drowning through:

• Engaging young people in drowning prevention and lifesaving through Lifesaving Sport

• Monitoring and assessing aquatic environments to guarantee safe participation in safe aquatic environments

RLSS – Unique Aspects

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

• Recognition as a Commonwealth Civil Society

• Focused in a recognised network of countries

• RLSS and it’s Membership shares the same values, principles, language and laws through shared history

• Access to Commonwealth Heads of Government

• A family

Principles of Working in Partnership

• Transparent and not Threatening

• Cooperative but not Competitive

• Inclusive and not Exclusive

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

Experiences from the field

• Nile Swimmers

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

Nile Swimmers – Supporting Nile Communities

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

Experiences from the field

• Nile Swimmers

• RNLI

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

RNLI– Developing Support Materials

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

• Basic Aquatic Survival Project

• Open Source “Toolkit”

• Wider Partnership Involvement

Experiences from the field

• Nile Swimmers

• RNLI

• International Lifesaving Federation

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

ILS – International Collaboration

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

Experiences from the field

• Nile Swimmers

• RNLI

• International Lifesaving Federation

• The Commonwealth

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

The Commonwealth – Advocating for Drowning Prevention

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

Experiences from the field

• Nile Swimmers

• RNLI

• International Lifesaving Federation

• The Commonwealth

• Commonwealth Games Federation

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

Commonwealth Games Federation – Lifesaving Sport a Commonwealth Sport

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

Experiences from the field

• Nile Swimmers

• RNLI

• International Lifesaving Federation

• The Commonwealth

• Commonwealth Games Federation

• Most Important – Our Members

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

RLSS & Its Members

Our regions

Work of our Members

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

Our Members

Working in Guyana

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

Our Members

Working in the Philippines

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

Website: www.rlsscommonwealth.org

Facebook: Commonwealth Lifesaving – The Royal Life Saving Society

Email: commonwealth@rlss.org.uk

To eliminate drowning in the Commonwealth

The Royal Life Saving Society An International Lifesaving Partner

Clive Holland

Deputy Commonwealth President