AS has been stated many times in The Press, York is a city with two rivers. As such it is important that people are educated in water safety.

The Royal Life Saving Society is the foremost provider of water safety and drowning prevention education and the only independent volunteer-run life saving club in York is Ebor Life Saving Club.

The club meets at Energise from 8.30pm to 9.30pm on Fridays during term time and we have several trainer assessors, including one recently qualified, and some newly-qualified assistant trainer assessors who are willing and able to teach anyone who wants to learn.

This is the problem. At the moment there are very few members in the club and should this continue we will have to close. This will leave a huge gap in available water activities and leave York people more vulnerable to the river dangers.

Life saving is also one of the activities that can be used as an element of the Duke of Edinburgh scheme in the skill, volunteering or physical requirements. We also teach basic first aid and resuscitation.

You do not need to be a fast swimmer as long as you are over eight and can swim a length you are eligible to join either our Rookie or Survive and Save courses and we can start you on the necessary skill required for lifeguarding.

The first session is free to attend, so you can decide if it is for you and the subscriptions are reasonable.

York has already lost one life saving club, please help to keep this one running.

Marie Taylor, Chairman Ebor Life Saving Club, St Wulstan Close, York