Vital funding from National Lottery to support Surf Therapy at our Scotland hub
The Wave Project Scotland receives vital funding from The National Lottery Community Fund to support young people’s mental health
We’re delighted to announce that the charity has been awarded £19,956 in funding from The National Lottery Community Fund to support our Surf Therapy hub in Scotland as part of the National Lottery Awards for All. This crucial funding will help us deliver our 2025 Surf Therapy programmes, supporting young people in Tayside and Fife who are struggling with their mental wellbeing.
Over six weeks, young people learn to surf at their local beach through 1:1 support from one of our dedicated volunteer mentors. They will develop their surfing skills, experience the healing power of the ocean and build meaningful connections with their peers and community. Following this, participants can join our Surf Club, designed to build on the progress made at Surf Therapy, providing a safe, social environment where young people can continue developing their confidence, resilience and social connections.
Poor mental health has devastating consequences for young people. It can disrupt their education, lead to harmful behaviours and social withdrawal, leaving young people feeling isolated. In Scotland, almost one-quarter of young people experienced two or more psychological problems in a single week in 2020. Around one in ten children and young people aged five to 16 have a clinically diagnosable mental illness, yet many struggle to access the support they need. The situation has worsened in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, with one-quarter of children in Scotland now living in poverty. This has a profound impact on their mental and physical wellbeing, their education and their access to other fundamental rights.
The Wave Project offers an alternative approach, giving young people early support in a way that is fun, natural and equips them with resources to manage their own mental health. With demand for our support higher than ever, this funding comes at a critical time. Families and young people are facing increasing stress and uncertainty, and the need for accessible, community-driven mental health support has never been greater.
Derek McDonald-Lee, Project Coordinator at The Wave Project hub in Scotland, said: “We are so grateful to The National Lottery Community Fund for recognising the importance of our work and supporting us in delivering Surf Therapy in Scotland. This funding will allow us to provide life-changing support to young people, helping them build resilience, confidence and positive coping strategies.”
“But the reality is that funding is harder than ever to secure, and the demand for our services is growing. We need more support to continue this vital work.”
Every donation makes a difference. By supporting us, you can help provide young people with a safe space to heal, grow and develop essential life skills. If you believe in the power of Surf Therapy and want to help us reach even more young people, please consider donating today.
About The Wave Project hub in St Andrews, Scotland
St Andrews is the most northerly of The Wave Project locations. We run sessions at the West Sands both with our partner surf school – Blown Away, and with our own equipment.
After a successful pilot in 2021, we have been welcoming young people from across Fife and Tayside to our Surf Therapy courses. Over 100 of these young people have gone on to join our Surf Club, where they can continue to attend sessions and be part of The Wave Project community.
We are so grateful to how supportive the community has been in helping get this project off the ground and sustain it, and of course to the amazing volunteers that make the sessions possible.