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Club Hub Member, Debbie Anne Turnbull Receives MBE

Published on 29th May 2024 by Tessa Robinson

Debbie Anne Turnbull, a Mother who lost her son to drowning on August 14^th 2006 has received an MBE from Princess Anne at Buckingham Palace on May 1^st 24 for services to water safety in the UK.

Says Debbie “I am overwhelmed and overjoyed that this Honour has been bestowed upon me – this gives me the confidence to further develop my drowning prevention work for the future”.

Debbie Anne Turnbull MBE has educated over 780.000 young people over the past almost 18 years in schools across North Wales and the UK.

Her work is innovative and as she states is different to the work of our emergency services who Debbie supports vigilantly – her experience over the years has gained much knowledge and insight into drowning prevention education and Debbie has taken it upon herself to work with many agencies to further her knowledge. Debbie speaks from the heart as a mother of a son she adored more than life itself – her presentations training and speaking engagements are all testament of her passion tenacity and love for the work she does.

The multi-award winning non-profit was created when Debbie started to speak in schools 3 weeks after her son drowned – she had no idea of the third sector way of working – however her sales and training/PR background enabled her to be able to capture the hearts of many. Debbie’s lifelong wish is to – Touch A Million Hearts – and is not far from this amazing goal. Debbie has spoken on 3 occasions in Parliament – met many Celebrities for example Bear Grylls who presented her with The National Lottery Special Achievement Award in 2017 – The UK Government presented Debbie with The Prestigious – Points Of Light Award – and was invited to an incredible event in UK Parliament where she met Eddie Redmayne and many sporting personalities.

“The Awards give me confidence – however the main thing is the messages that go out there from the publicity ensuring that by listening to my story people may be warned of the dangers of open water.”

What’s next for RASS ?

Debbie is setting up an online education portal whereby she will be able to deliver her bespoke water safety courses for parents and families either by Live sessions or by an online course that can be purchased. Her bespoke programme is also available for teachers and other educators who wish to train to enable them to teach their own pupils/students in schools colleges and other organisations like carers wherever young people are.

Debbie is also looking for Sponsorship from organisations who may feel they could support the workshops in schools provided by RASS – a Sponsor could support 1 lesson or a whole school – or indeed provide products or services that Debbie and RASS need in these challenging times where grants are not as obtainable as they once were.

Debbie is also a Keynote Speaker and has presented at many conferences re water safety and also as an Inspirational Woman telling her story – From Loss To Legacy – which she feels will now be the name of her book to help other Mother Parents to work through their loss which has been a very tough experience – she is now Training to become a Trauma Informed Practitioner – delivering with great passion this vital Training to organisations in the way that only Debbie Anne Turnbull MBE would …