Implementation of the Water Safety & Drowning Prevention Recommendations

Water is essential for our physical and mental wellbeing; therefore it is important to protect it and the people using it. Wales has seen a substantial growth in outdoor activity, especially within water over recent years. Data shows that in 2022, there were 22 accidental water fatalities in Wales. We know there are 1755 water-related incidents in Wales requiring emergency response per day. In the last 5 years there have been several high-profile incidents: - In June 2018, Mark Allen, aged 18, drowned after jumping into a reservoir. - In 2021, four paddleboarders lost their lives in Haverfordwest in a single incident due to inadequate planning, preparation, clothing, equipment, and failure to view the flood alert for the river and risk posed by the weir. - In early December 2022, a kayaker was taken to hospital after falling into the sea near Cemaes Bay, Anglesey. - In January 2023, a couple died in an accident when visiting Ystradfellte, Powys on holiday. Fire services, mountain rescue, and national air support services were involved in the four-day search. - In June 2023, a teenage boy drowned at Aberavon Beach after jumping off the pier as part of an annual ritual done after school exams. It was Mark Allen’s loved ones that petitioned the Senedd Petitions’ Committee to place throwlines around every water source where there is a risk to life. As a result, the Petitions Committee published a report with 6 recommendations to enhance Wales’ Drowning Prevention Strategy (WDPS). The delivery partner will work alongside Welsh Government to deliver recommendations 2, 3, 4, and 6. The report can be downloaded here - https://senedd.wales/media/cn4fcehy/cr-ld15291-e.pdf. Water Safety Wales has taken the water safety agenda forward since 2017, publishing the WDPS in 2020. The WDPS links to our ambitions for a healthier Wales in the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act. The WDPS includes action on the report’s identified themes: Alcohol, Supervision, Safe Access, Learning to Swim, Risks and Plans, Safer Holidays, Data Issues, and Support. The WDPS can be downloaded here - https://www.nationalwatersafety.org.uk/media/1236/water-safety-strategy-2020-2026.pdf. The Welsh Government, with Water Safety Wales, aim to procure a supplier with appropriate expertise and knowledge to deliver Water Safety Wales’ WDPS and the 6 recommendations. The scope of the work will include: - Secretariat to Water Safety Wales (WSW) - Strategic direction and programme management - Communication - Projects When implementing the recommendations, the successful bidder will need to balance respecting and supporting the independent activities of individual member organisations, coordinate activity with the aims of the WDPS, and provide a focused and collective approach to achieving the aims of the WDPS, ensuring outputs are efficient. They will also undertake the function of collating and recording that activity and its contribution to the delivery of the WDPS. The bidder will identify current gaps in the delivery of the WDPS and develop and oversee that the aims are delivered. We believe that through cross-departmental collaboration within Welsh Government and between our delivery partners, adopting a Team Wales approach can reduce the number of water-related accidents and fatalities across the country. We aim to deliver the tender via eTenderWales over Autumn 2023. Please only register if you are interested in bidding, referencing C019/2023/2024 via this PIN Notice.