A COMMUNITY club that teaches children as young as seven how to save lives at sea has received a timely boost thanks to a £16,500 donation from Omaze.

As families descend on to the beaches of Cornwall for summer holidays, it is a key time to highlight the importance of water safety.

Polzeath Surf Life Saving Club, which teaches life saving techniques and beach safety to children and adults, is set to reach even more people thanks to the donation from Omaze.

The club, which opened in 1990, now has more than 242 members from the age of seven to adults. Alongside its life-saving training, Polzeath’s team also provides water safety cover voluntarily during training sessions, when the RNLI aren’t on duty.

Many youngsters who have trained with the club from the age of seven through to 17 go on to become RNLI lifeguards themselves.

The club is proud to offer females the opportunity to become lifeguards through its training pathway, and just recently, all five lifeguards on patrol were female, all having come through the club.

James Ross, vice chair at Polzeath Surf Lifesaving Club, said: “The club really is the heart of the community, bringing people to the beach and looking after them whilst they’re there. The RNLI cover Easter to October but, beyond that, we are the eyes and ears during our training sessions and are always looking out for all beach users. This is an amazing example of the local community looking after all its visitors.”

The donation will fund the Parents Participation Project, providing training to 40 parents so they can support children’s training which means the club can teach vital skills to more young people in the community.

It will also fund a new trailer, a double ski and board and cover further training for five of Polzeath’s existing coaches.

Ross added: “Without this donation from Omaze, we couldn’t do what we do, keeping people safe in the water today, and in the future. The trailer and ski board means we can add to what we offer as a club but the Parent’s Proficiency Project is especially important because it means we don’t have to turn children away.”

James Oakes, president of Omaze, said: “Polzeath Surf Life Saving Club does amazing work to keep people safe at the beach now, and for years to come. We’re delighted that this donation on behalf of the Omaze community will empower them to continue, and give even more children and young people skills that will actually save lives.”

Polzeath SLC members have been involved in numerous rescues over the years.

Ross added: “The club has given so many people the opportunity to understand the water, to be safe at the beach. We are developing the lifeguards of the future, they will always be needed and when they come from our club they already know the beach and we know they will be of the highest standard.”