Thirteen young people at Culloden Swimming Pool have completed three terms of hard work and dedication — and they have the Gold Stage 3 Rookie Lifeguard certificates to prove it.
The group, aged between 8 and 12, took part in our Rookie Lifeguard programme, which we deliver across the Highlands in partnership with the Royal Life Saving Society. Designed to be fun as well as educational, the programme introduces children to water safety, survival techniques and basic rescue skills — building confidence and teamwork along the way.
From bronze to gold
The programme runs across three stages — Bronze, Silver and Gold — with each stage broken into three levels and typically lasting eight to ten weeks. Participants can also earn specialty awards at any point, keeping the experience fresh and rewarding at every step.
This group achieved the highest level of the programme, completing Gold Stage 3 — no small feat.
Megan Sheldon, Leisure Supervisor at Culloden Swimming Pool, said: "A massive congratulations to all our Gold level Rookie Lifeguards. They worked incredibly hard and showed a great deal of resilience and commitment to the programme."
Meet our Gold Rookie Lifeguards
We're delighted to congratulate the following young people on their achievement:
- Scarlett Mackenzie
- Lucy Tyrer
- Liana MacPhee
- Rowan Mort
- Cayden Chisholm
- Matthew Stranraer-Mull
- Faith Macdonald
- Olivia Szczechowiak
- Tilly Johns
- Kaylee Doig
- Corran Morrison
- Kitty Greening
- Eliza Greening
They worked incredibly hard and showed a great deal of resilience and commitment to the programme.
Leisure Supervisor
What happens next
Following the success of this group, we're already planning to restart the Rookie Lifeguard programme at Culloden from Bronze level next term — so if your child is aged 8 to 12 and you'd like them to get involved, keep an eye out for enrolment details.
An 'Excellent' rating to match
We're also thrilled to share some wider news. In our most recent assurance audit carried out by the Royal Life Saving Society, we achieved an 'Excellent' rating — the highest level of compliance available. This is the first time in over five years we've reached that standard, having consistently held a 'Good' rating in previous years. It reflects the dedication of our teams across the region to water safety and best practice.
Ready to take the plunge?
Find out how your child can learn essential water safety and lifesaving skills with our Rookie Lifeguard programme.
