According to the NHS, one in six young people are experiencing a diagnosable mental health issue.
We’re on a mission to change that.
Our approach is to intervene early, treat young people with respect and focus on a learning activity that they can relate to – surfing.
Our Surf Therapy programme is a three step intervention:
Step 1 – Six week surf therapy course
Step 2 – Surf Club
Step 3 – Progressing to volunteer
When young people are referred to us, they are usually quite anxious. Our six week introduction to surfing helps them to overcome their worries about the water and feel more confident about taking on different challenges.
As well as learning to surf, participants are also supported by their own personal surf mentor, who encourages them in their surfing journey and helps build their confidence and resilience in the waves.
We also allow each surfer to work at their own pace and set their own challenges each week with a little encouragement from the group. By week six our young surfers are often much more confident and ready to take on other challenges in their lives.
Our Surf Club is open to all young people who have completed a Surf Therapy course.
At Surf Club, the students get to meet new people, expand their social horizons and improve their surfing.
There are no limitations on the number of sessions each student can attend. Surf Club sessions are available for our surfers for as long as they need them.
At Surf Club, young people still have the benefit of a personal Surf Mentor and all kit and equipment is included.
Surf Club enables young people to continue to build on the increased confidence they gained through their Surf Therapy course and be more comfortable with themselves and other people.
Once our Surf Club members have reached the age of 14, they are eligible to begin their training as Surf Mentors.
This enables them to complete their wellbeing journey from a child in need to a young person helping others.
Volunteering is not suitable for all young surfers. Some prefer to improve their skills as a Surf Club member. This is fine. We always work to the objectives of the young person, not our own.