Bath Sports and Leisure Centre and Culverhay Sports Centre have already helped 50 local people gain the UK's premier lifeguard training award this year, with another 24 residents to be trained up before the end of the year.

 The Royal Lifesaving Society's National Pool Lifeguard Qualification has widespread international recognition and is accepted at every pool in the UK. Gaining the award is an ideal way to enter the leisure industry.

 All Aquaterra pools run courses throughout the year, with Bath Sports and Leisure Centre hosting an extra two courses this year to meet demand.

 Barnaby Rich, General Manager at Bath Sports and Leisure Centre said:

 "This valuable training provides residents in our communities with marketable skills and helps them to find work within the leisure industry, including those who progress to full or casual employment at Aquaterra leisure centres or at other pools."

 The syllabus includes pool supervision, rescue techniques, resuscitation, first aid, spinal injury management and health and safety in leisure centres. Each course is 40 hours in length plus an assessment and once gained is valid for two years.

 All pools managed by Aquaterra are Royal Life Saving Society approved training centres.