A simple wristband scheme has proven invaluable this summer, with an average reunion time of just seven minutes for families on Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole's award-winning coastline.
POOLE – As we look back on another glorious summer, Bournemouth & Poole Tourism is delighted to celebrate the incredible success of the LV= KidZone beach safety scheme, a vital initiative that has provided peace of mind to thousands of visiting families.
This summer, a remarkable 130 lost children and vulnerable individuals were swiftly and safely reunited with their loved ones, thanks to the collaborative scheme run by BCP Council and proudly sponsored by local insurer LV=.
Operating across Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole's 15 miles of stunning coastline from 1 July to 1 September, the scheme was a visible and reassuring presence. Seafront teams distributed approximately 36,000 free wristbands to families enjoying their day out. The simple but highly effective system allows parents or guardians to write their contact number on the wristband, making reunions incredibly efficient. This year, the average time to reunite a lost person with their group was an impressive seven minutes.
Councillor Richard Herrett, Portfolio Holder for Destination, Leisure & Commercial Operations at BCP Council, highlighted the scheme's importance for visitors. “Our stunning seafront attracts many visitors and residents alike, and on a busy day, children and vulnerable people can disappear from sight quickly and unexpectedly,” he said.
“Losing someone like this can obviously be very distressing, and this scheme plays an essential part in keeping our beaches safe and providing peace of mind to our community and visitors. I’m so pleased that we have partnered with LV= for another year and continuing to work together to help our visitors enjoy a safe and stress-free day at the beach.”
The partnership with LV= has been key to the scheme's enduring success, demonstrating a fantastic commitment to the local community.
Samantha Preece, Chief Brand and Communications Officer at LV=, commented: “LV= KidZone is such an important initiative, helping to keep people safe on our local beaches. We’re proud to support the scheme and are grateful to all of the LV= KidZone team, RNLI lifeguards and the BCP seafront team who are involved in its success.”
Our partners at the RNLI, who work tirelessly to keep our waters safe, also praised the scheme's impact on beach operations.
Ed Stevens, RNLI regional lifeguard lead, said: “Our lifeguards see first-hand how quickly a fun day at the beach can turn stressful if a child or vulnerable person goes missing. The LV= KidZone scheme has been a huge support in helping us reunite people with their loved ones quickly and safely.”
Beach Safety Continues into Autumn
While the LV= KidZone scheme has now concluded for the season, we want to remind visitors that your safety remains our top priority.
RNLI lifeguards will continue to be on duty at the following beaches between 10am and 6pm daily until Sunday 28 September:
- Sandbanks Beach
- Bournemouth West Beach (West of Pier)
- Bournemouth East Beach (East of Pier)
- Boscombe East Beach (East of Pier)
For any life-threatening situation on the coast, you should always call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
We encourage all visitors to follow the RNLI’s expert advice for staying safe by the sea. You can find their top five tips here: RNLI Beach Safety – Top Five Tips To Stay Safe By The Sea.
We thank all our partners and every single visitor for helping to make summer 2025 a safe and memorable one. We look forward to welcoming you back to our beautiful beaches soon!
