About Us
Vale Surf Life Saving Club is a registered charity (no 1178572) established in 2017. We are a family friendly club and affiliated with SLSA Wales and our aims are the promotion and provision of surf lifesaving skills and sport for all ages and abilities. Vale SLSC offers training in water safety, rescue, coaching, resuscitation and first aid and lifesaving activities for training, enjoyment and competitions. We also provide voluntary lifesaving and rescue services in the Vale of Glamorgan. Vale SLSC mainly trains at Jackson’s Bay, Barry Island and has a base at Barry Yacht Club. Days and times of training sessions (including any last minute changes or cancellations) and upcoming events can be found on our Facebook page (Vale SLSC Members). Our club often holds fundraising activities, social events and has a lot of fun as well as training hard! We rely on volunteers to assist with all aspects of running club activities and fundraising – any help would be greatly appreciated!
Nippers (7-13)
Nippers are our youngest team members aged 7-13 and the focus of training is fun and includes a mixture of beach activities/games (beach flags, sprints and relays), sea activities (wading. swimming and board paddling) and during the winter months – pool swimming, running, fitness and games. Nippers also begin to learn life saving skills as well as beach and water safety and are encouraged to make friends, work together and have fun – gaining skills and confidence along the way. Children of any ability are welcome to join in beach training but to take part in the sea/pool activities they will be required to swim at least 50m (this will be assessed by Vale SLSC coaches). Older nippers learn first aid and can obtain their Beach Lifesaver Level 1 (formerly Junior Lifesaver) once they are 12. There are optional competitions/carnivals nippers can take part in which are held on the beach in the summer months and in the pool during the winter. These have individual and team events and are usually great fun. All nipper sessions are supervised by fully qualified and DBS checked experienced coaches and parent helpers are also welcomed. If you have any problems or queries please speak to one of the coaches or committee. We also have a designated safeguarding officer.
Juniors/Youth (13-19)
Junior members are aged from 13 – 16 and youth 16 – 19. Once nippers reach the junior section they replace nipper boards with full-size racing/rescue boards and surf skis. The skills and confidence gained as nippers are the foundation for activities in this age group. There is still plenty of fun to be had but training is more varied and challenging. The swims are longer and the runs are further – all preparing these youngsters to be able to put their surf life-saving skills to good use. Junior members are encouraged to take awards and to help with voluntary beach patrols. If any junior member requires help to carry equipment, a family member must accompany them to training to assist with this.
Youth members often take their NVBLQ/Beach Lifeguard qualification exam which enables them to obtain work as paid professional beach lifeguards. We have a number of extremely talented junior and youth members who have been selected for the Welsh and British Surf Life Saving Squads.
Seniors/Masters (20+)
Our more experienced members and coaches – seniors and masters bring a wide range of experience to the club. Many of our older members fully take part in training, competition, coaching and surf life saving activities and can show the children a thing or two! We also encourage new adult members to come and have a go and find out what surf life saving is all about. All you need is enthusiasm! We also welcome adults/parents to help out with the day-to-day running of the club, assisting the coaches, organising social events and fundraising activities etc.. Associate membership is available for those members who choose not to train or compete but still wish to be a part of Vale SLSC. This includes membership and use of Barry Yacht Club facilities.
Contact Vale SLSC by CLICKING HERE or call on 07779 098597
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