Loch Ken Trust is one of several organisations that has received funding from the Drax Foundation for its Youth Water Safety Awareness Programme.
The Trust provide schools with water safety sessions and carries out patrols through its ranger service, encouraging users of the loch to be safe and mindful of the environment.
Leanne Pumpr, head ranger for Loch Ken Trust, spoke about the importance of the initiatives: “We are really grateful to the Drax Foundation for this funding, which will help to support our important work around Loch Ken for both the local environment and our water safety sessions.
“On average, 96 people lose their life each year due to a water-related fatality in Scotland, so it is of paramount importance that we teach young people how to enjoy water-based activities in a safe and responsible way.”
Ian Kinnaird, Drax’s FlexGen Assets Director said: “We want to make sure that young people can benefit from the outstanding natural beauty of places nearby to our Scottish hydro-electric assets. That’s why promoting water safety in the communities where we operate is an important issue for us at Drax.
“Picturesque lochs and stunning coastline make our landscape one of the most beautiful places in the world, and by equipping young people with the skills to keep themselves safe on and around the water, more people can take part in water activities in these special areas.”
Embers Aquatics, a charity engaging with Scottish primary schools to conduct water safety workshops, will receive £5,000 to support their goal of helping young people prioritise water safety in Galloway, Argyll and Bute and Lanarkshire.
The project aims to deliver a total of 375 workshops, potentially supporting around 7,500 pupils across Scotland.
Highlighting the importance of water safety also gave local schools in Galloway the opportunity to win £500 for STEM resources. Schoolchildren in the region were tasked with designing a poster to raise awareness of water safety, with winning entries displayed beside Loch Ken and schools receiving a £500 grant to spend on STEM resources. The competition winners were Tamzin Scott, Crossmichael Primary School (P2-4) and Abbie Dickie, Springholm Primary School (P5-7).
Further information about the Drax Community Fund from www.drax.com/community-fund/.