Message from the Chair
2025 has been a busy and productive year for the National Water Safety Forum. It has been a year of reshaping and refining structures, polices and processes, all with the view of optimising our ability to achieve our primary objective: reducing drowning.
Projects have included the establishment of Water Safety England (WSE) and the progression of Water Safety Northern Ireland (WSNI), as well as embedding a revised governance structure for the NWSF founded on three primary functions: data, education and communications.
All four nations are currently working on developing the next iteration of their drowning prevention strategies, with England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland working together through the NWSF to define unifying principes that will govern the UK’s approach to drowning prevention once our current UK Drowning Prevention Strategy comes to end in July 2026.
We are also in the process of reviewing WAID to ensure the next iteration of the system is focussed and optimised to the needs of the NWSF and its members, whilst the NWSF has also undergone a review to streamline content and make it more accessible and useful, both to practitioners and the public.
I am proud of the level of progress the NWSF has made this year and believe our dedicated network is an excellent position to keep building on our lifesaving work in 2026.
National Water Safety Conference 2026: submit an abstract
The National Water Safety Conference 2026 will take place on Tuesday, 6 October, 2026, in Birmingham, providing a vital platform for water safety leaders, practitioners, educators and academics to come together, share knowledge, and shape the future of drowning prevention in the UK.
The abstract submission system is now open. We are inviting abstracts on the following topics:
- Evidence and data – research, analysis, and evaluation methods in water safety
- Education – innovative approaches to increasing knowledge, skills and experience in water safety, swimming and water competency
- Communication – campaigns, messaging, and public engagement strategies
- Policy – approaches to collaboration between government, landowner and other responsible parties as well as management of risks in and around water.
Before submitting your abstract, please take time to read the submission guidance. The deadline for submissions is 5pm on March 31, 2026.
Submit your conference abstract
World Conference on Drowning Prevention 2025
Several members of Water Safety England and Water Safety Scotland attended the World Conference on Drowning Prevention from November 21 to 23 in the coastal city of Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. Co-sponsored by the World Health Organization, the event brought together global and national experts, advocates, and volunteers to share knowledge and raise awareness about drowning prevention and water safety. Several of our members presented across the themes of Prevention, Policy, Rescue, Disaster and Swimming.
Global Status Report on Drowning Prevention 2024: country stories
The World Health Organization will soon release its Country Stories document to complement the Global Status Report on Drowning Prevention 2024. This publication highlights specific drowning prevention initiatives from member states. The UK was selected to feature under the Governance and Coordination intervention, showcasing the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF) as a key case study for providing a collective voice on water safety across the UK. The report is expected to go live in the coming weeks and a link will be shared once available.
Campaigns
Don’t Drink and Drown and winter water safety from RLSS UK
As the festive season approaches, RLSS UK’s Don’t Drink and Drown campaign returns with vital water safety advice to help partygoers stay safe on nights out, including guidance on avoiding risky routes home near water.
Learn more and access resources
RLSS UK will also promote general winter water safety messages until February 2026 to encourage everyone to stay safe during storms, flooding, and other winter weather events.
Find out more about Winter Water Safety
Date for your diary: International Aquaphobia Day, 7th February 2026
International Aquaphobia Day aims to raise awareness about the fear of water and its impact on non-swimmers. It is held annually on 7th February.
The day is supported by organisations like the Swimming Teachers' Association (STA) and the Institute of Aquaphobia (IOA). The goal is to educate the public about how the aquatics industry can help people overcome a fear of water through specialist training – such as the Aquaphobia Learning Programme (ALP) – which focuses on building water confidence and desensitising fear.
Updates from the devolved nations
Water Safety England
New guidance on establishing Water Safety Partnerships in England
Water Safety England have published new guidance on setting up a successful Water Safety Partnership in England.
Using the Greater Manchester Water Safety Strategic Partnership as a case study, this document builds on existing 2024 guidance from the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF), setting out clear steps for local regions and areas to create and develop their own Water Safety Partnership in England.
Local regions and areas have a pivotal role to play in drowning prevention. By establishing a collaborative Water Safety Partnership, they can effectively utilise local knowledge and expertise to reduce fatalities, whilst ensuring a link to national strategic direction.
It is acknowledged that the local authority landscape in England is complex and so this guidance aims to help regions in England develop partnerships based upon national insight and the successful experiences of the Greater Manchester Water Safety Strategic Partnership.
Read the guidance the NWSF website.
How to propose a project for Water Safety England
Water Safety England now has a project process in place, allowing both members and non-members to propose projects under one of our key functions (data, education and communications) and aligning to our strategic objectives. If you would like to learn more, please email the Secretariat at info@watersafetyengland.org.uk.
Water Safety Scotland
Scotland Drowning Prevention Strategy Consultation
The first draft of the next iteration of Scotland’s Drowning Prevention Strategy was sent out to Water Safety Scotland (WSS) membership for consultation from 10 November to 8 December. The draft was compiled through the Strategy Subgroup with input from WSS’s subgroup members.
Alcohol safety
Scotland’s Water Safety Code has been successfully cobranded with Best Bar None Scotland. Copies of the cobranded code have been distributed to local representatives across Scotland, with WSS’s alcohol safety social media assets cobranded and shared with Best Bar None partners and premises across Scotland. These resources are a valuable tool in educating the public on the dangers of drinking alcohol near bodies of water and provide them with the means of keeping themselves safe.
Annual Information Exchange 2025
On the 1 October, Water Safety Scotland (WSS) hosted its Annual Information Exchange meeting in Edinburgh. Around seven members, including WSS Steering Group, were in attendance. The meeting primarily involved discussions regarding the next remit of Scotland’s Drowning Prevention Strategy. Thanks to all those who attended and for all of your contributions.
Policy Webinar
On the 22 October, WSS hosted a Policy Workshop designed to help local authorities understand water safety policy creation and implementation by sharing key information and advice. Ten local authorities were represented with 12 individual attendees.
Partner updates
Boats can be replaced – people can’t: powerful new testimonial from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency
A powerful new video testimonial has been published this month as part of the MCA’s ongoing work to improve safety within the commercial fishing industry, which is widely regarded as one of the world’s most dangerous occupations.
The video features skipper Bruce recounting an incident last year in which he and his five crew were on board a 23m fishing vessel when it capsized out of the blue in the early hours of a foggy October morning. They were in the North Sea, about 140 miles from land. Thankfully their regular training, drilling and preparation ensured all of them lived to see another day.
Watch the video or read the full story on the MCA website.
As part of the Home and Dry Safety Forum, the MCA works with other stakeholders with a focus on improving the safety of commercial fishing at sea. The “Home and Dry” campaign shares vital information and guidance on fishing safety for anyone who owns or works on a commercial fishing vessel. The goal is to ensure fishermen and all crew get back to their loved ones, home and dry.
New riverside safety guidance from the Port of London Authority
The Port of London Authority (PLA) have released “A Safer Riverside”, an new handbook of guidance designed to help local councils and landowners within the Tidal Thames area improve safety infrastructure on riverbanks, including the architecture and maintenance of riverside areas and the provision of safety equipment.
The guidance highlights the importance of features such as grab chains and offers examples of good design from around the world. Building the right safety infrastructure can reduce the pressure on the emergency services and ultimately save lives.
The PLA are working with developers to ensure they follow the guidance, promoting public safety and drowning prevention.
Tidal Thames Water Safety Forum publish refreshed drowning prevention strategy
The Tidal Thames Water Safety Forum have refreshed their drowning prevention strategy for the Tidal Thames, with the following objectives:
- Raise awareness of drownings on the Thames with key policy makers, stakeholders and the general public
- Reduce accidental drowning through understanding incidents and audiences, and using communications, campaigns, education and outreach to target audiences most at risk
- Reduce suicides and self-harm through understanding incidents and audience, supporting the expansion of Bridge Watch and promoting intervention training.
- Maintain and improve the Search and Rescue response to incidents on the river.