Last week, STAnley visited students at Dothill Primary School in Wellington, Telford, where, alongside the STA team, he shared important advice on staying safe in and around water during a winter-themed water safety assembly.

Dothill Primary School is situated next to Tee Lake in the Dothill Local Nature Reserve, which freezes over in the winter months. This is a safety concern for the school, as there are no barriers in place. In response, Seb Reeve, a 9-year-old student at Dothill, and who has been chosen to be one of STA’s young international water safety ambassadors for 2025, decided in his role to organise a ‘winter-themed’ water safety assembly for the whole school.

During the assembly, the students learned important water safety skills, with a focus on staying safe around icy and snowy waterways, understanding the effects of cold water, and how to assist someone who has fallen through the ice.

In addition, each student received a free STAnley bookmark that outlines the water safety code, which serves as the foundation for all water safety education. The code covers key principles such as recognising hazards, never going alone, learning how to assist others, and knowing how to survive in emergency situations.

Mrs Harvey Deputy Headteacher at Dothill Primary Schools said: “All our students, from reception to Year 6, were thoroughly engaged with the water safety assembly. Being located next to the lake, we are always concerned about the children going on the ice and an incident occurring. That’s why the visit from STA, thanks to Seb Reeve in his role as a water safety ambassador, was so valuable.”

“The school is committed to educating both children and their families about water safety, and today, they all had a great time with STAnley while learning important lifesaving lessons.”

Jodie Davis, STA’s Aquatic Technical Officer who delivered the assembly, said: “Water safety assemblies provide a fantastic opportunity for us, as a swimming and lifesaving charity, to engage with children and highlight the importance of learning to swim, and how to be more aware of water safety overall. In the case of Dothill, they requested a winter-themed focus due to the nearby lake, which allowed us to discuss the dangers of icy and snowy waterways. With STAnley, our friendly water safety mascot, we were able to deliver an animated, fun assembly that the students could really connect with.”