Young unemployed people are being given the chance to make a splash to train to be a lifeguard in a free two week training course in Hackney.

The two week course is for 16 to 25-year-old Hackney residents who are not working, studying or training or studying.

The course will be held at Kings Hall Leisure Centre from Monday 31 January to Friday 11 February and successful students will gain a National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ), receive a guaranteed interview with GLL which runs leisure centres in Hackney and across London.

They will also gets six months support from The Prince’s Trust, which has teamed up with Hackney council and GLL for the training scheme and is aimed at developing people’s teamwork, confidence, communication and employability skills.

Candidates must attend a half day Employability session on Tuesday January 25 or Wednesday January 26, be confident swimmers and pass a swim test during a Taster Day on Thursday January 27.

Lunch and travel will provided during the course.

Twenty-five young unemployed people from East London have already gone through the course and all eight students on the most recent course in November were offered jobs.

Calvyn Senna Green, from Hackney said: “ he other people on the course turned from strangers into family and I am so grateful for what the trainer has done for me. Personally, I have achieved all my goals and I am very happy with my qualification.”

Ben O’Donnell from The Prince’s Trust said: “The group grew and developed so much over the programme. They were willing to learn and dedicated to attaining this qualification. These young people have come from a vast range of backgrounds and pasts but their motivation and support to each other throughout has been amazing. They thoroughly deserve the success and opportunity they have now achieved.”

For further information about the Get Into Lifeguarding and other Prince’s Trust courses is available from matthew.schmolle@princes-trust.org.uk or 020 7543 1457 or 07961 876 601.