YOUNGSTERS are being given the chance to become lifesavers during the Easter holidays.

Rookie lifeguard taster sessions are running at Glasgow Club Springburn as part of Glasgow Sport's spring holiday programme.

As part of our Active 2014 campaign, the scheme is aimed at keeping pupils active and educating them on water safety.

The rookie lifeguard sessions, which launched this week, will also equip young people with basic skills and offer them the chance to learn more about rescue, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and much more.

These starter lessons are aimed at children aged from eight to 15 years and are led by Alan O'Neill, a trainer and assessor at Glasgow Club Springburn.

Alan, 34, said: "The rookie lifeguard sessions usually run on Wednesdays for beginners from 5pm to 6pm and improvers from 6pm to 7pm. But during the school holidays we are running these on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1.30pm to 2.30pm.

"People learn something new every time they are here and there are various levels for them to progress through, from water safety and diving to water rescue, CPR and first aid.

"We ran the same sessions last year during the school holidays at Easter and summer and they were a huge success. Quite a few people went on to join our regular sessions because they enjoyed them so much.

"It's fun doing activities such as snorkelling and doing practical CPR techniques, but some important lessons are also learned. There's a strong focus on water safety and the kids are always eager to learn."

Pupils who enjoy the taster sessions can sign up for weekly classes which progress through nine stages. These start at bronze one and rise to gold three, before moving up to master rookie stage where participants also learn to teach.

The taster sessions cost £4.10 - or £3.85 with a Glasgow Kidz Card/Glasgow Young Scot Card - and are paid at reception on the day.

There are plenty of pool activities for kids during the holidays at other Glasgow Club venues. Castlemilk, Easterhouse and Gorbals offer Fun, Floats and Flumes all next week, while Pollok youngsters can get into snorkelling. There will be songs and splashes at Bellahouston on April 18 when the venue stages a pool disco from 2pm to 4pm.

The swimming programme at Glasgow Sport is an ideal introduction to water for children of all abilities. Glasgow Sport offers a variety of lessons for children aged 6 months upwards, including parent and child, independent, and adult lessons. For further information call 0141 287 5947, visit www.glasgowlife.org.uk/swimming or email swimming@glasgowlife.org.uk

Taster lessons will run at Glasgow Club Drumchapel from 2.30pm all next week. These will give your child the opportunity to enjoy a one-off swimming lesson before enrolling them into mainstream programmes. These are just £1.75 or free with Glasgow Kidz/Young Scot membership.

Youngsters can try their hand at a wide range of other sports, from athletics and badminton to cycling and tennis, in Glasgow Sport's Spring Holiday Programme. Full details can be found at: www.glasgowlife.org.uk/sport/HolidayActivityProgramme

Meanwhile, readers have another chance for a free swim with today's printed voucher. Simply take the coupon, also available online at www.eveningtimes.co.uk, along to any of the following Glasgow Club venues: Bellahouston, Castlemilk, Drumchapel, Easterhouse, Gorbals, Maryhill, Pollok, Scotstoun, Springburn, and Whitehill.

Evening Times Active 2014 aims to improve the health of Scots in the year of the Commonwealth Games and build a lasting legacy of physical wellbeing.

Working with partners Glasgow Life, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and SportScotland we'll be creating exciting opportunities for individuals, communities and businesses to get active as we bid to improve the health of as many people as possible in the community.

The message is that even the smallest of changes in activity and lifestyle can make a huge improvement in health.

angela.mcmanus@eveningtimes.co.uk