Swimming in purpose-built pools

If you or another member of your leadership team is running the activity at an external venue/location, follow these extra steps:

• Arrange for a home contact. Leave any route or other relevant details with your home contact and complete a home contact agreement form. Let them know about any changes to your plans.
• Tell your commissioner.
• Get a copy of the public liability insurance of the activity provider before you book.
• Check you hold the relevant qualification (if one is needed) to run the activity and let your commissioner know you plan to run it yourself. If you aren't sure, speak to your local adviser to check.
• Check with the venue that they have the correct equipment and, if needed, specialist clothing that will meet the needs of your group.
• Get any specialist equipment or clothing needed to run the activity not provided by the venue, and make sure this is in good condition and fit for purpose.
• Check that any equipment is suitably insured by the provider and agree what happens to the equipment if it gets damaged.
• Ask for a copy of the venue's safety guidelines and risk assessment (if relevant).
• Make sure you have the correct ratio of participants (girls, leaders and volunteers) to qualified adults (those running the activity if a qualification is needed). This is different to the ratio of leaders to girls.
• Consider the ability and experience of the participants and any disabilities, access needs or health conditions and plan the session accordingly.

Some venues might ask for a disclaimer or waiver to be signed for each person taking part in the activity. This is something which parents or carers must sign on behalf of their child. You can do this along with the consent form. Parents or carers should be given sufficient information from the provider along with the waiver so they can make an informed decision to sign it or not. Leaders can only sign disclaimers and waivers for their own personal participation. 

If you're working with an external provider or external instructors to run this activity outside the unit meeting space, follow these extra steps. 

• Arrange for a home contact. Leave any route or other relevant details with your home contact and complete a home contact agreement form. Let them know if you make any changes to your plans.
• Tell your local commissioner.
• Tell the activity provider about the ability and experience of the participants and any disabilities, access needs or health conditions that need to be considered when running the activity.
• Choose a reputable and licensed activity provider (where applicable).
• Check the qualified adults hold the correct qualification to be able to run the activity (see the information below).
• Get copies of the instructor qualifications and public liability insurance of the activity provider before you book.
• Ask for evidence that the external provider has their own risk assessment for the activity they are running for you.
• Make sure you have the correct ratio of participants (girls and volunteers) to qualified adults (those running the activity). This is different to the ratio of leaders to girls.
• Check with the venue that they have the correct equipment and, if needed, specialist clothing that will meet the requirements for your group.
• Source any specialist equipment or clothing needed to run the activity not provided by the venue, and make sure this is in good condition and fit for purpose.
• Check that any equipment is suitably insured by the provider and agree what happens to the equipment if it gets damaged.

Some venues might ask for a disclaimer or waiver to be signed for each person taking part in the activity. This is something which parents/carers must sign on behalf of their child. You can do this along with the consent form. Parents and carers should be given sufficient information from the provider along with the waiver so they can make an informed decision to sign it or not. Leaders can only sign disclaimers and waivers for their own personal participation.

Lifeguards must hold 1 of the following minimum lifeguard qualifications:

• RLSS UK National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) STA Level 2 Pool Responder.
• The ratio of lifeguards to swimmers will be given in the Normal Operating Procedure (NOP) for the pool concerned. All public pools are required to have a written NOP and Emergency Action Plan (EAP).
• For structured swimming sessions (a sponsored swim, organised games, badge work etc) instructors may alternatively hold the RLSS National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers and Coaches (NRASTC).

If you're providing the lifeguards at privately hired or privately owned pools:

• The leader must ensure that there's a suitably qualified lifeguard as outlined above who's not included in the adult-to-girl ratios.
• The lifeguard shouldn't be in the water at the same time as the swimmers.
• 1 lifeguard is required per 250 square metres of pool, or per 50 swimmers.

If you need more information about qualifications, ask your local outdoor activities adviser or contact [email protected].

Finding a lifeguard

Contact your local swimming club, the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) or the Swimming Teachers' Association (STA) for information on booking a lifeguard.

If teaching swimming, an appropriate swim leader or coach award is required.

Swimming ability and water confidence   

For many activities around or on water, confidence in the water is more important than the ability to swim a particular distance.  Often girls will need to be assisted back onto a craft by the qualified adult running the activity and they should have the confidence to remain in the water until rescued.   

Leaders must check the swimming ability and confidence in water of their girls and highlight those with weak swimming abilities or low water confidence to the instructor. This can be done through either the day events and activities consent form (PDF, 713KB) or residential event and activities consent form (PDF, 707KB) parents fill in that asks about water confidence and swimming ability.   

Where weak swimmers or those with low water confidence are taking part, this should be risk assessed and ratios may need to be amended.   

You can get good swimmers who have low water confidence if the environment in which they're swimming is different to usual. Someone who is a good swimmer in a pool may not initially be very confident in cold open water.   

Activity providers may have a swimming ability requirement to take part in this activity. Leaders should check with the activity provider before booking.   

If a girl has a medical condition that will affect her ability to swim, tell the instructor so they can assess whether it is possible for them to take part safely.  

Water safety

The leader must:   

• Make sure that safety rules and alarm signals have been explained to the girls, and they understand the need for instructions to be obeyed immediately.   
• Follow water safety guidelines and ensure that the responsible adult helpers are familiar with them.   

In privately hired pools, the leadership team should also: 

• Conform to the requirements laid down in the pool’s conditions of hire. 
• Agree responsibility for evacuating the rest of the swimmers from the pool if the lifeguard needs to enter the water. 
• Know how to make non-contact reaching and throwing rescues. 
• Find out where there is a telephone that can be used in an emergency. 
• Ensure that emergency equipment, such as rescue aids and first aid equipment, is available. 

International   

If doing this activity abroad, contact [email protected]    

The ratios below are given as a maximum. Ratios must be considered as part of the risk assessment. This may lessen due to any medical conditions, physical ability or other factors.

Leadership team ratio

As this activity will take place outside of your usual meeting place the leadership team adult-to-child ratio is mandatory.

• Rainbows: 1:2.
• Brownies: 1:8 (1:2 for under 8s).
• Guides: 1:12.
• Rangers: 1 leader, with a recommended second adult.

Qualified adult-to-participant ratio

There must be a qualified lifeguard present. We recommend at least 1 adult with up-to-date knowledge of water safety and rescue techniques, such as the Girlguiding water safety training module.

Activity providers or centres may have different ratios. Where they differ from the above, the strictest ratio should be followed.

In agreement with the pool operator and qualified adult, not all of the supervising adults need to be in the water, but they do need to be physically present and vigilant at all times and prepared to go into the water in an emergency.