The Wave Project
Changing lives through surfing
The Wave Project uses surf therapy to support young people aged 8 to 24 who face challenges with their mental health, learning or physical health, from anxiety and depression to autism and ADHD. In the water, they’re seen not for their difficulties, but for their courage, determination and joy.
Each young person starts with a six-week Surf Therapy course alongside a dedicated volunteer Surf Mentor, who builds trust and cheers them on every step of the way. Sessions run at beaches and inland wave pools across the UK, combining the calming power of the ocean with the thrill of learning to surf.
When the course ends, the support doesn’t. Young people can keep coming to Surf Club for as long as they need it, with all kit provided, and some go on to train as Surf Mentors themselves, building calm, confidence and friendships that last well beyond the water.
2016
Year they joined the Raise Your Hands platform
2,674
Children and Young People supported last year
Why they’re needed
Many young people are living with anxiety, low confidence or difficulty managing big emotions, and too many are left waiting for support. These challenges reach into every part of a young person’s life: the friendships they build, how they get on at school, their physical health and how they see themselves.
Young people facing these challenges can end up feeling isolated from their peers, labelled by their difficulties and unsure of what they’re capable of. Some find that support offered in a clinic or classroom doesn’t quite reach them, especially when the setting itself feels like part of the pressure.
The Wave Project believes in stepping in early, treating young people with respect and using an activity they can connect with. Out on the water, with no expectations and no pressure to perform, young people discover a calmer state of mind, a sense of belonging and a more positive picture of who they are.
How they do it
Young people are referred by professionals such as teachers, doctors or social workers, and the six-week course comes at no cost to the child or family. Each participant is paired with a dedicated Surf Mentor and works at their own pace, setting their own challenges and celebrating small wins. They don’t need to be able to swim to take part.
After the course, young people can join Surf Club, with no limit on how long they stay. Trained Surf Mentors are still there, all equipment is provided, and sessions are a chance to keep surfing, make friends and grow in confidence, because mental health doesn’t follow a straight line. From the age of 14, members can train as Surf Mentors, going from receiving support to giving it.
Projects run in coastal communities across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and at inland wave pools in Bristol and near Edinburgh, bringing surf therapy to young people far from the sea. Adaptive Surfing Hubs in Cornwall, Devon, the Isle of Wight and North Yorkshire offer tailored sessions and specialist equipment for people with physical disabilities.
Find out more about The Wave Project’s amazing work
Harrison’s Story
Nine-year-old Harrison was nervous around water. At swimming lessons, he would sit on the side while the other children got in. When his primary school referred him to The Wave Project, the team agreed with his family to take things slowly.
On his six-week course at Westward Ho!, with a Surf Mentor beside him every step of the way, Harrison went from getting used to a wetsuit and standing at the water’s edge to lying on his board and catching his first small waves. He went on to join Surf Club at a new beach, with new people, and showed no nerves at all.
Today he is more confident in the water and in himself, and his family says he looks forward to his lessons so much. “I learnt about going underneath the water,” says Harrison. “It’s all about being brave. I also learnt about being kind to others.”
Support The Wave Project along with 15 other children’s charities
The Wave Project is one of a portfolio of small UK children’s charities championed by Raise Your Hands. When you donate to us, your gift is shared equally between every charity in the portfolio.
One donation. 16 small charities. 16 ways to change a young life.
