Christchurch Life Saving Club

Christchurch Life Saving Club is a registered charity that was founded in 1970 with the aim of training the next generation of pool and beach lifeguards. Located at Friars Cliff Beach in Christchurch, the club provides a lifeguard and first aid service to beach users. The club currently has members ranging from 8 to 50+, with both Nippers (7-12 years) and Youth sections.

During summer, the Youth members focus on gaining the skills required to achieve the SLSGB Surf Lifeguard Award, while the Nippers work towards the SLSGB Nipper Pathway Awards. In the winter months, the club moves its training to the swimming pool where Juniors and seniors mainly concentrate on achieving the skills necessary for their Pool Lifeguard certificate. The Nippers go through the club's own CLSC Nipper awards programme.

In addition to the lifesaving skills training, the club also participates in Surf Lifesaving Sport. There are various competitions held throughout the year, including those organised by the Poole, Bournemouth, and Christchurch Life Saving Association (PBCLSA), as well as the SLSGB national and regional competitions.

One of the core values of the Christchurch Life Saving Club is giving back to the community. The club organises an annual New Years Day Dip, which is a major community event aimed at raising funds for local charities. Over the years, the club has raised a significant amount of money for Macmillan Caring Locally through this event.

The club is also dedicated to development and has been working towards a new Club Hut project. The aim is to create a building that is better suited to the club's activities and enables them to continue training the next generation of lifeguards. After a public planning consultation in 2017, the amended plans were approved by the Christchurch Borough Council in 2018, marking a significant milestone in the club's history.

Christchurch Life Saving Club takes pride in its positive impact within the local community and the close-knit family environment that has been fostered over its 50-year history.