The Bolton Sports and Physical Activity Alliance (BOSPAA) has unveiled plans to invest £10,000 in a new scheme designed to encourage young people to become lifeguards.

Over the next two years, funding will go towards providing GCSE students aged between 14 and 16 years old with the opportunity to learn water life saving skills through the Royal Life Saving Society's (RLSS) Rookie Lifeguard Programme. The initiative will be targeted at young people in five different areas of the Lancashire town from September, particularly those currently studying GCSE Physical Education, following the conclusion of a successful pilot scheme at Sharples High School.

Students will be expected to give up time during the half-term holidays in order to learn the necessary life saving skills to gain a Gold Rookie Award and later a Young Aquatic Award, while also volunteering to work as a lifeguard at local swimming pools. It is hoped that the scheme, which will be run by Bolton Council's community swimming teacher, Debbie McNeil, will provide young people in Bolton with the chance to go on and work towards the National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ).

McNeil said: "Rookie Lifeguard is the ideal stepping stone for the NPLQ lifeguard qualification and a future career in lifeguarding." In addition to local schools, Serco Leisure Centres in the area have adopted the Rookie Lifeguard package to offer members of the public the chance to benefit from lifeguard training.