WATER SAFETY is not a frivolous issue. Water can kill – and sometimes it does, and sometimes it does it here, very close to home. Mayor Lutfur Rahman is all too aware of that – and determined to do all he can to promote water safety awareness among young people.
The Mayor made his commitment clear at an event held by Be Well (the Council’s sports and leisure service) on 16th September. School pupils from across Tower Hamlets gathered at Poplar Baths to hear about the hidden dangers of open water: cold-water shock, strong currents and submerged hazards. They also learned why swimming is such an important life skill.
Be Well brought together experts from a range of services: Adam Goymer from Swim England, Rachel Beckford and Nicky Prince from the Marine Police and Tim Cutbill from the London Fire Brigade. The event was led by Jackie Ayres, Aquatics Manager for Tower Hamlets.
What did the Mayor think of the session? “Having recently met with a family affected by a tragic water-related incident, I have seen first-hand the profound impact these events can have on loved ones and our wider community,” he said. “That is why I have consistently championed water safety as a priority for Tower Hamlets. As a borough surrounded by rivers, docks, canals and basins, it is vital that our residents and young people understand how to stay safe around water and know what to do in an emergency.
“Learning to swim, developing water confidence and understanding the risks associated with water are essential life skills that can help save lives. By ensuring more children have access to these skills and knowledge, we can help prevent future tragedies and keep our residents safe.”
The Mayor has backed up his words with his actions. He introduced free swimming for women, girls and men aged 55 and over back in 2024. He also worked with local campaigners to re-open Poplar Baths as a swimming pool after it had remained shut for years under Labour.
Be Well is committed to improving water confidence across the borough. It works with schools to teach children to swim and develop essential water skills. The recent event is an excellent start: now Be Well and their school partners need to do a great deal more to embed water safety skills in the minds of children and families in Tower Hamlets.
●Read more about it: Water kills: be aware to be safe Mayor Lutfur Rahman mourns drowned teen