A total of 50 organisations have joined forces to back the launch of a new campaign targeted at preventing drownings in the UK.
After the latest figures have shown that 277 people sadly lost their lives in accidents in the water in the UK in the past 12 months alone, health and safety campaigners have come together today, on what is World Drowning Prevention Day, to launch the joint campaign – which is called Respect the Water.
Run by the National Water Safety Forum (NWSF), Respect the Water aims to reduce the number of water-related deaths and accidents, and looks to highlight the potential dangers of water, and encourage people to reconsider their actions and adopt safer behaviour.
“We want you to enjoy the water, but we also want you to recognise its dangers and never underestimate its power,” the NWSF explains of the campaign.
By 2026, the campaign is aiming to halve the number of people in the UK who accidentally die in the water each year.
There may be a #heatwave at the moment, but the water is still cold. If you got into difficulty in cold water, would you know what to do? Your instinct is to thrash around, but cold water shock can make you gasp uncontrollably. Instead, #FloatToLive. pic.twitter.com/Ka26jYvFIU
The World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics estimate 235,600 people drown every year globally, and it is among the 10 leading causes of death for children.
More than 90% of drowning deaths occur in rivers, lakes, wells, domestic water storage vessels, and swimming pools in poorer countries – with children and adolescents in rural areas disproportionately affected.
The NWSF also explains that current drowning figures show a clear gender divide, with men accounting for the vast majority of those who die, so while it says the campaign is “primarily aimed at men”, the safety advice is just as relevant for anyone who finds themselves in difficulty in open water – both at the coast or inland.
The joint campaign has been launched as temperatures have been soaring across the UK as of late, and are set to continue over the summer, and also comes after two teenagers tragically lost their lives in separate incidents in Greater Manchester within the last two weeks alone – a 16-year-old boy in Salford Quays, and another 16-year-old boy in Dawber Delph quarry in Appley Bridge, near Wigan.
As we approach the summer school holidays in parts of the UK, we are asking those visiting coastal areas to:
✓ Choose a lifeguarded beach ✓ If you're struggling in the water, #FloatToLive ✓ If you have children, teach them to float
— Canal & River Trust (@CanalRiverTrust) July 15, 2022
The 50 groups backing the campaign are nationwide – including the RNLI, HM Coastguard, the National Fire Chiefs Council, the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents, the Royal Lifesaving Society, Swim England, Water Safety Scotland and Water Safety Wales.
“Contrary perhaps to popular imagination, most accidental drownings occur inland: 168 or 62% in 2021,” said a spokesperson for the Respect the Water campaign group.
“With all UK schools now out for summer, rivers, lakes, canals, flooded quarries and reservoirs are set to get increasingly busy, though many are perhaps unaware of the dangers that these cold, freshwater settings can pose, even when air temperatures are very high.”
277 people died after drowning in the UK in 2021, which is compared to 254 in 2020, and 233 in 2019.
The RNLI encourages those who find themselves in difficulty in the water to float to “increase your chances of survival” / Credit: RNLI
The RNLI and the Respect the Water campaign says there are “two simple skills” everyone should know that could save a life.
“If you find yourself in difficulty in the water, float to increase your chances of survival,” the RNLI says.
Fight your instinct to thrash around.
Lean back, extend your arms and legs.
If you need to, gently move them around to help you float.
Float until you can control your breathing.
Only then, call for help, swim to safety or continue floating until help arrives.
If you see someone else in trouble in the water, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.
Rochdale has been named Greater Manchester’s ‘Town of Culture’ for 2025
Emily Sergeant
Rochdale has officially been named Greater Manchester’s Town of Culture for 2025.
Taking over the reins from Bolton – which held the title in 2024 – and following in the footsteps of Stockport before that, which held the title in 2023, and even hosted a massive ‘Town of Culture Weekender’ festival with 50+ free events to celebrate and bring its title year to a close, it’s now the turn of the north-eastern Greater Manchester borough of Rochdale.
Rochdale’s year will build on the town’s already-rich cultural history and international reputation as the home of the co-operative movement.
More than 35 arts organisations will be bringing together an ambitious programme of festivals, exhibitions, events, and performances throughout the year.
Unfamiliar with what the ‘Greater Manchester Town of Culture’ title is all about? It’s an accolade that’s handed out every year to different boroughs across the region.
Bury was the inaugural title-holder 2020 and held onto it in 2021 too due to the COVID pandemic, before being followed by Stalybridge in 2022, Stockport in 2023, and of course, Bolton in the year just gone.
The title celebrates Greater Manchester’s culture and heritage.
As well as getting a new title to shout about, it also sees the towns given a grant from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) culture fund to help develop a programme of cultural events and activities throughout the year.
Rochdale has been named Greater Manchester’s ‘Town of Culture’ for 2025 / Credit: The Manc Group | Rochdale Council
In Rochdale’s case, you can expect the ‘very best local talent’, as this year is promising to put ‘people power’ centre stage, with residents helping to plan, develop, and deliver a lineup of creative activities, alongside a number of major events.
This includes the popular free days out for families, an exciting new urban arts festival, two different food and drink festivals, a lantern parade, the Ignite Fire Festival, a Pride parade, and so much more.
You can also expect live music performances, a new people’s gallery, and even some major international collaborations that are yet to be announced.
Rochdale is taking over the reins from Bolton, which held the title in 2024 / Credit: Rochdale Council
“Rochdale is a place with a rich cultural history, so it is great to name it Greater Manchester’s town of culture as it’s town hall and town centre enter a new era,” commented Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham as the borough was crowned this week.
“Rochdale submitted a fantastic bid for this which, was incredibly exciting and ambitious, while being firmly rooted in its local talent and deep history.
“We are definitely going to see the very best of what Rochdale has to offer over the next 12 months and people will come from far and wide to see it.”
Featured Image – Rochdale Council
News
The Lowry Theatre undergoes revamp following Biffa Award grant
Danny Jones
The Lowry in Salford Quays has had a bit of TLC with one of its biggest theatre spaces undergoing a pretty significant refurb this past month.
Following a well-deserved grant distributed via the Biffa Award, a multi-million-pound fund that helps to build communities and transform lives through community and environmental projects across the UK, the legendary local theatre received nearly £75k last year.
As a result, all 440 seats and various other aspects of The Lowry‘s Quays Theatre have now been renovated and refurbished.
The short story is, she looks more gorgeous than ever – see for yourself:
Being initially handed over in March 2024, The Lowry was awarded a total of £74,816 to reupholster seating in the venue’s Quays Theatre with new padding and fabric.
After almost 25 years of constant use as one of the most popular theatres in the North, the seats in the Quays Theatre were much in need of a refurb, and with work completed in December, Lowry visitors can now enjoy watching the venue’s wide range of theatre, dance, comedy and drama in comfort.
The work was actually carried out between July and December, with seats being carefully removed in batches and reupholstered off-site.
This was made possible due to the Biffa Award’s most recent ‘Cultural Facilities’ theme, which aims to improve recreation, interest and education, drawing funds from the UK government’s wider Landfill Communities Fund.
The old fabric and padding were disposed of sustainably, with lots of it being repurposed where possible to minimise waste and all the new materials used meet current guidance for safety and quality.
The Lowry’s Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Development, Gwen Oakden, said of the long overdue update:“It is so important that our audiences are able to enjoy our world-class performing arts programme in a comfortable and welcoming space.
“For many visitors to the Quays Theatre, this is their first experience of live performance – often to see a family show or as part of a school trip. We really want it to be the best experience possible, and for them to begin a lifelong relationship with Lowry.
“As a registered charity, without the generous support of this Biffa Award, for which we’re hugely grateful, we couldn’t have carried out this important work for our audiences.
As we head into our 25th Anniversary year, we are delighted to be able to welcome audiences and visitors can enjoy the beautiful and revived Quays Theatre.”
As for the Biffa side of things, Grants Manager Rachel Maidment added: “We are delighted to have supported The Lowry in refurbishing the Quays Theatre seating, ensuring audiences can continue to enjoy performances in comfort.
“Through Biffa’s Cultural Facilities theme, we fund projects that provide engaging and inspiring spaces for communities. The Lowry is a key cultural venue, and we’re proud that our funding, made possible through the government Fund, has helped enhance the experience for visitors for years to come.”
Like most Mancs, we love The Lowry, so here’s to hosting countless more theatregoers in the most comfortable seats possible for generations to come.
We’ve been to some brilliant performances around here of late.
Emily Sergeant -
25th July 2022 
