3 minute read
Taking vulnerable young people from inner-city London out to the coast to experience the benefits of surf therapy, the Wave Project London is the first-ever City to Sea Wave Project. We’re proud to help fund this incredible project through the dryrobe® Warmth Project.
The Wave Project started in 2010 as a voluntary group funded by the NHS in Cornwall, with the aim of using volunteers to provide one-to-one surfing lessons for young people with mental health issues as a way of getting them outside, doing physical exercise and feeling more confident about themselves. This first project achieved outstanding results.
The results of the pilot showed that going surfing once a week helped participants feel more confident, improved their outlook and gave them a sense of fun. The participants were young people who other services had been unable to reach and the evaluation of the project showed that the surfing course had led them to feel more accepted, positive and comfortable with their lives. Encouraged by the results, The Wave Project was established as a not-for-profit company.
Since then, The Wave Project has grown and developed into an award-winning scheme, using the same methods of involving local surfers to help young people reduce anxiety and improve their emotional health. New projects have been set up all over the UK.
These therapeutic surf courses have some fantastic results, with the young people seeing their confidence and connection with their community grow as a result of being involved.
At dryrobe® we’re proud to be extending our support for the Wave Project. The increased support will see dryrobe® contribute significantly to projects that help vulnerable young people from inner cities experience the benefit of surf therapy. A large portion of this funding will be used to support the Wave Project in London, helping to employ a Project Coordinator. Their role is pivotal in making the London projects a success, through building relationships with the young people and their families, as well as establishing and maintaining a community around the project.
As well as the surf therapy courses, the Wave Project London also run surf clubs, socials, events and training in London and Southwick. Their focus is on working with young people from the central London borough of Southwark, enhancing their ties to their community, improving their confidence, and supporting their personal growth through their six-week therapeutic surf courses.
We are also supporting this incredible charity with a Limited Edition Wave Project dryrobe® Advance - with 100% of the profits supporting the incredible work that the charity does.
For more information on The Wave Project and how you can get involved to support their work, head to waveproject.co.uk.
Follow the Wave Project
Facebook: Wave Project
Instagram: @waveprojectuk
Twitter: @waveproject
Film by Mikey Corker
#dryrobeterritory