Partnering with Above Water: Supporting Water Safety in Torbay

At Torbay Rum, we take a lot of inspiration from where we live. The coast, the people, the way of life — it all shapes what we do. But we also know that with the sea comes risk, and that’s why we’ve partnered with Above Water, a local charity focused on drowning prevention and water safety education. This partnership is a key part of how we want to give back to the community around us. With every bottle we sell, we donate 1% of our sales to Above Water, with proceeds going towards supporting their Adult Water Safety Awareness Sessions.

Who Are Above Water?

Above Water was set up by Brendon Prince, a former teacher, lifeguard, and now full-time water safety advocate. After years of experience working on the water and seeing the consequences of accidents, Brendon made it his mission to improve water safety education - especially in coastal areas like Torbay. His charity focuses on drowning prevention through education and practical skills. They work with schools, run talks in the community, and provide hands-on training to help people of all ages stay safer in and around the water. Their aim is simple: give people the knowledge and confidence to avoid danger and know what to do if things go wrong. Above Water doesn’t just talk about the risks - they teach real-life skills that can save lives. Whether that’s understanding how tides work, learning to spot hazards, or knowing how to react in an emergency, their work is about making people more aware and better prepared.

Why This Partnership Matters

For us, supporting Above Water makes sense. We spend a lot of time talking about how great Torbay is - the coastline, the sea, the lifestyle - so it’s important to also recognise the challenges that come with it.

Partnering with a charity that’s tackling a very real issue in our own community feels like the right thing to do. It’s not just a message on our website — with every bottle we sell, we’re helping fund the education, training, and awareness Above Water provides.

Sustainability at the Core

Supporting Above Water also fits into a bigger picture for us. From the start, we’ve been working to make Torbay Rum as sustainable as possible. That includes:

• Using labels made from recycled materials
• Choosing bottles that are easy to reuse or recycle
• Cutting out unnecessary plastics from our packaging
• Sourcing locally where we can to reduce transport emissions

For us, it’s not about ticking boxes. It’s about making thoughtful choices that reduce our impact and support our local economy.

Looking Ahead

We’re proud to support Above Water and play a small part in helping them continue their vital work. As we grow, we’ll keep looking for ways to stay connected to the community, protect the coastline we love, and run our business in a way that makes sense for the long term.If you’d like to learn more about Above Water, you can visit their website here.