Partnership training to round off Be Water Aware Week

06/05/2025

Volunteer training to help enhance water safety around the county was hosted during this year’s National Fire Chief Council’s Be Water Aware Week.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service delivered training to Environment Agency volunteers who assist river users through many of the county’s locks. This involved learning how to use throwlines if someone gets into difficulty in the water, and other general water safety tips.

Station Commander Paul Clarke, the Service’s lead for water safety, said: “We’re delighted to be working with the Environment Agency and Cambridgeshire Acre to deliver this important water safety training during Be Water Aware week to volunteers. Locks can be dangerous environments to inexperienced river users and by providing the volunteers with this enhanced water safety training will help to ensure the safety of any river users that are unfortunate enough to get into difficulty around locks.”

The training took place across two days, with volunteers from Cambridgeshire Acre and the Environment Agency attending.

Ian Bliss, Waterways Partnership Manager at the Environment Agency said: “It’s fantastic to be working with our colleagues at Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service and Cambridgeshire Acre on this vital training.

“We have 37 volunteers who assist at our busier locks during the summer boating season. Having these volunteers trained and ready to assist river users where needed will be incredibly important in helping keep people safe.”