The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has been shortlisted for a Safer Communities Award for their Water Safety Fife initiative.

Nominated for the ‘Early Intervention and Education’ category, the initiative helps young people understand risks around water, the impact of their behaviour and has developed a sustainable way of protecting themselves and the community.

The team behind the initiative includes The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS), the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Police Scotland.

After the second tragic death by drowning at Prestonhill Quarry in Inverkeithing in over three years in 2015, the partners teamed up to create a pilot water safety project for local high school students.

The presentation was piloted in six High Schools in West Fife last September to every High School pupil. The pilot is continuing this year in Fife, and has also been delivered in other areas of Scotland.

Gillian Barclay, the mother of Cameron, who drowned at the quarry, works with the team to explain the impact his drowning has had, not only on her family, but on their wider circle of friends.

The Scottish Community Safety Network (SCSN) announced the shortlist for the Safer Communities Awards 2016 this week with the winners in each category being announced at the Awards Dinner on the 5 September 2016.

As well as being nominated for the ‘Early Intervention and Education’ category, all shortlisted projects have been entered into the ‘People’s Choice Award’.

The People’s Choice Vote allows the public choose the project that should win across all categories, and receive £2000. To vote visit https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/PeoplesChoice16