The Wave Project
Changing lives through surfing
The Wave Project provide award-winning surf therapy projects delivered across the UK.
The Wave Project work with young people, aged 8 to 24, who have been identified as being at risk of or diagnosed with a mental health issue, learning difficulty or physical disability; for example ADHD, Autism, anxiety and depression. In some cases, their problems are exacerbated by self-harm, challenging behaviours, eating disorders or other coping mechanisms.
The Cause
Whilst each young person is affected differently, they often share:
- Exceptionally low confidence
- Poor self-esteem and self-image
- Lack of self-belief
- Isolation from their peers, social exclusion
- Feel stigmatised/labelled
The young people will already be working with and are referred to The Wave Project by professional services, such as psychologists; Child and Adolescent Mental Health; social services or crisis teams.
According to NHS figures, mental health issues for young people are getting worse, with 1 in 5 children in the UK struggling with their social, emotional or mental health (up from 1 in 9 three years ago). Evidence has shown that a child with good mental health is much more likely to have good mental health as an adult, and to be able to take on adult responsibilities and fulfil their potential. (Young Minds, 2014). Therefore, early prevention and intervention work with young people is key.
Surfing as Therapy
The Wave Project offers fully funded surf therapy courses which are proven to help young people feel calmer, more motivated and better about their future. Sessions are delivered by professional surf instructors and supported by a team of local volunteer surf mentors.
Young people work at their own pace to overcome challenges and develop a sense of pride in their achievements. There is no pressure to succeed, instructors and surf mentors work to create an atmosphere of support and positivity.
Over time, young people change from isolated and shy to more engaged, confident and happy. The ethos of acceptance, support and learning to overcome challenges, alongside the revitalising effect of being in the sea, is a unique and powerful combination that really does transform lives.
After completing their course, the young people are welcome to join the Wave Project surf club. The clubs provide longer-term support and friendship, helping to reduce isolation. With over 325 members it is one of the largest surf clubs in the UK. Although they mainly go surfing, The Wave Project also run a variety of winter activities from beach cleans to surfing Santa’s Christmas parties.
For young people and their families who are finding life hard, the Wave Project gives them a sense of identity and becomes a significant part of their lives.
“It’s a long-established body of evidence which shows that when you organise therapeutic activities around particular tasks, people benefit not just from social interaction but also build confidence.”
What They Do
In 2010 the local NHS Trust in Cornwall funded a six-week pilot scheme to examine the benefits of surfing on the emotional health of young people. The results showed that going surfing once a week helped clients feel more confident, improved their outlook and gave them a sense of fun. Encouraged by the results, The Wave Project was established in 2011.
The Wave Project is now an award winning UK charity that helps young people experience a better life through surfing. Their work has been hailed as an innovative and accessible way in which to help young people improve their mental health and well-being.
The charity has since expanded out of Cornwall to support young people in Devon, Dorset, Isle of Wight, Brighton and Scarborough in the North East. They also have active projects in East Scotland and across Wales.
With only a small staff team, the work is largely dependent on a community of volunteers, who helped to transform the lives of over 14,000 vulnerable young people to date.
Awesome Volunteers
Children say that the most important part of their therapy comes from the volunteers. They provide one-to-one support for children in the water, helping with participants’ physical needs – managing the boards and the waves in heavy Cornish swells. But increasingly it became clear that mentors were absolutely intrinsic to the programme. Their genuine care for young surfers is enhanced by the challenge of learning to surf together, and it is this relationship that provides the magic ingredient of surf therapy.
Surf mentors are at the heart of what The Wave Project does. Some surf mentors are former students at the project who came back to help other young people. Today, sessions are delivered by hundreds of trained volunteer surf mentors across the UK. New volunteers sign up every day, including some famous ones…
– A story from The Wave Project –
Anna Bella’s Story
Ana Bella started her Wave Project journey in May 2016 and what a journey it has been! She immediately took to surfing and was up on her feet on the first session riding the waves like a pro! Ana is 12 and has a diagnosis of ADHD and undergoing screening for Autism. Before she started surfing she was having serious anger issues, anxiety, low self-esteem, lack of confidence and generally having a really tough time.
“The moment she started surfing, she could not wait for Sundays – she has never been that enthusiastic about anything before! There was never a problem with her leaving the house to go surfing, she was super comfortable with her peers and instructors, which I had also never seen before.
She has made some friends (something that is really hard for her to do), gained confidence, enthusiasm and her self-esteem has grown. Ana is now un-medicated and a lot happier, although of course the symptoms are all still there, she can deal with them better than before.
I too have made some really great friends with some of the other parents- a welcomed outlet to talk with others that not only empathise but sympathise.
She can’t wait to get back in the water and see everyone – neither can I.”
– Ana Bella’s Mum –