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PADDLEBOARDING FOR GOOD What does the Wave Project do?
The Wave Project improves the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people through Surf Therapy and the healing powers of the ocean and other blue spaces. Born on a beach in Cornwall in 2010, they have grown to become a national charity that changes young lives across all four corners of the UK.
They have developed a pioneering programme to support young people struggling with their mental health and who don’ t feel that conventional services( fully) work for them. Surf Therapy draws on the significant psychological powers of surfing, being in the water, positive relationships and feeling part of a community.
Over six weeks, young people learn to surf at their local beach through 1:1 support from one of their 1300 committed local volunteers.
They work in 17 locations across the country, including Cornwall, Edinburgh, the Isle of Wight, and north Yorkshire, and with over 2,500 young people each year.
Their unique approach unlocks three vital social and emotional skills – self-confidence, optimism and the capacity to build positive relationships. These spark a longer-term ripple effect, with young people going on to improve their mental health and wellbeing, build healthy relationships, develop a sense of belonging and increase their engagement with education and other positive activities.
Paddleboarding is also a valuable part of the Surf Therapy offering, especially in locations where waves are not always consistent, such as hubs in London, Brighton and South Devon. It allows young people to connect with the ocean or blue spaces in a way that is calm, accessible and empowering.
Whether they are paddling on the sea, a river, or a lake, SUP helps the Wave Project deliver the same core therapeutic benefits of Surf Therapy: building confidence, creating connection and improving wellbeing through time in nature.
How can paddleboarders support The Wave Project? If you’ re a paddleboarder and want more young people to experience the benefits of blue spaces, there are lots of ways to get involved: l Create your own paddleboarding adventure and turn it into a charity challenge or fundraiser! Whether it’ s a long-distance paddle or a daily streak, you can raise funds for The Wave Project through platforms like JustGiving and help change young lives through Surf Therapy. l Host a community paddle or local event to raise awareness and donations. l If SUP has helped your mental health, tell the Wave Project about it! Sharing your experience can inspire others and highlight the power of time on the water.
Jo Moseley
Hello, my name is Jo and I’ m the author of three books about paddleboarding,‘ Stand Up Paddleboarding in Great Britain’ and‘ Stand Up Paddleboarding in the Lake District’, which won the Lakeland Book Awards Zeffirellis Prize for Guides and Places.
My third book,‘ Adventures on the Water- The Power of Paddleboarding to Change Lives’, explores the physical, mental, emotional, and social benefits of SUP. It includes 25 inspiring personal essays from incredible paddlers, along with a valuable resource of the best tips, favourite locations, snacks, and kit.
It has been a joy to write my Paddleboarding for Good column over the years, and much of the inspiration for my new book, Adventures on the Water, comes from the stories I’ ve researched for SUP Mag UK and the connections I’ ve made.
For my final column, I wanted to return to The Wave Project, one of the charities I supported through my coast-to-coast adventure in 2019, paddling from Liverpool to Goole. Paddleboarding is part of their surf therapy programme.
I was recently lucky enough to join The Wave Project in Scarborough on the north Yorkshire coastline, where I met Sarah Turner, who had recently been Highly Commended in the BBC Make A Difference awards and Matt, a surf coach at Coastal Concepts. It was a cold, rainy, and grey day, but the smiles on the faces of the children who joined the programme as they built their confidence in the waves were like sunshine. The volunteers were brilliant and so generous with their kindness and knowledge. I’ m so proud to know and fundraise for them.
Find out more: www. waveproject. co. uk