The Wave Project has been providing award-winning surf therapy and beach school projects across the UK for over 10 years.
By Carly Crosby
With a decade of charity work under its belt, The Wave Project has been providing award-winning surf therapy and beach school projects across the UK for over 10 years.
Improving children’s mental health and wellbeing through their Surf Therapy Programme, delivering personal surf lessons for people with disabilities through three specialist Adaptive Surfing Hubs and offering specialist education programmes to enable pupils to learn outside the classroom. All enabling children and young people to build confidence and overcome anxiety barriers through surfing.
Every volunteer at The Wave Project is instrumental. A group of talented, passionate and committed people providing the skills, knowledge and time to roll out these incredible programmes.
With a decade of charity work under its belt, The Wave Project has been providing award-winning surf therapy and beach school projects across the UK for over 10 years.
Improving children’s mental health and wellbeing through their Surf Therapy Programme, delivering personal surf lessons for people with disabilities through three specialist Adaptive Surfing Hubs and offering specialist education programmes to enable pupils to learn outside the classroom. All enabling children and young people to build confidence and overcome anxiety barriers through surfing.
We spoke to volunteers Kelsi Lewis, Hayley Lawrence and Becky Parry from Cornwall, Caroline Lertoria from the North East and Lara MaGee from Northern Ireland to find out more about these roles, the organisation and why volunteering is important and rewarding.
What do you do at The Wave Project and do these roles entail?
Caroline: I am a volunteer surf mentor, there to support and encourage the young people who have been referred to The Wave Project. I am usually buddied up with the same individual for the duration of the 6 week course – this is important for keeping consistency and also for building strong bonds between mentors and surfers. Week to week I support my buddy surfer in practicing and improving their surfing techniques, offering help and advice in any way I can.
Hayley: I work on the Surf Back to School projects, working one-to-one with children who are at risk of dropping out of education. From 8-15 year-olds, there’s a huge number of children who don’t fit the mould of mainstream education, and their lack of success in the classroom fuels difficult behaviours and relationships. As soon as you get them in the sea, all these expectations and emotions are stripped back and they can simply be themselves, learn naturally in the beach classroom and feel the thrill of riding waves. Whether they catch white water on their bellies, or a shoulder-high wave on their feet, the glee of the that glide is transformative. It might be the high point of their week. But it’s also a positive moment that helps to rewire and shift things for the better in the long run.
Becky (above): As the Head of Retail and Events for over 10 years, my role is varied but my most recent innovative partnership is with Cornwall Council & SUEZ UK, dedicating wetsuit recycling bins across Cornwall so you can dispose of old wetsuits and neoprene goods knowing they will be going to a good home. Either washed, repaired and resold (with all of the profits from the sales of wetsuits go straight back into the charity), or passed to local innovative businesses for upcycling.
Life can be so tough and we have now got this fabulous charity that can make life feel less tough
Lara
Why is the Wave Project an important charity?
Caroline: At a time when people are really struggling with their mental health more than ever before and resources are scarce especially for vulnerable young people, organisations like The Wave Project are quite literally changing (and saving) lives! The sessions allow individuals to express themselves freely in a safe and supportive environment, boost self esteem and confidence with lots of praise and support, develop new skills, build trust and relationships with others and work on socialising when maybe what they’ve been used to is feeling quite isolated.
Lara: Life can be so tough and we have now got this fabulous charity that can make life feel less tough, through building our young peoples self esteem, reducing anxiety and developing positive futures. It harnesses the oceans natural power to relax us and introduces a safe and positive space to give that experience to more people at a critical age in their lives.
Becky: The Wave Project was one of the very first UK based Surf Therapy organisations working with children and young people facing mental, physical and emotional health challenges. 1 in 6 experience a diagnosable mental health issue but The Wave Project are on a mission to change those statistics! We are trying to make the sea an accessible and inclusive space for everyone.
Why should others volunteer for The Wave Project?
Lara: There is so much more to it than just the sessions you volunteer at. It becomes a wider community of like minded individuals who dedicate their time for others. It’s a great place to make lifelong friendships, getting little surf post sessions in and all the other events you can go along too!
Kelsi and crew
Kelsi: Great people, great community and an afternoon helping catch waves on some of the UK’s best beaches….what more is there!
Caroline: Volunteering for The Wave Project is one of the best things I’ve ever done and I urge others to sign up too! It’s great to be part of a community of like minded people and every session is incredibly rewarding. You don’t even need to be a surfer – you just need to bring empathy and understanding with a good dose of positive energy and you’ll fit right in.
Hayley: When you read what some of the kids we work with go through, it’s heartbreaking. But as soon as you get them in the sea, having a playful, positive experience, you can see barriers being broken down, social relationships being made and perspectives shifting.
What makes you proud and brings you joy when working with The Wave Project?
Lara: What makes me proud is seeing the smiles on the young people’s faces within just one session and the real lasting impact the charity can have on them, and so quickly.
Caroline: There really is no better feeling than witnessing the progression of the surfers and seeing just how far they have come since Week One – not necessarily in terms of their surfing ability but more within their self esteem and social skills. Individuals who joined the group feeling shy and isolated can be laughing and playing games with others in the first few weeks and it brings happy tears to my eyes every single time.
Becky: I feel honoured to have worked for The Wave Project as long as I have and to have the privilege of working closely alongside founder and CEO Joe Taylor to get the charity to where it is today. I have been involved in The Wave Project since the pilot project at Watergate Bay, in 2010. As you can imagine my role has evolved and changed many times, being the first female employee at the charity in 2013 to now 10 years later and the charity is now a female dominated organisation.
Hayley: I’ve always been in awe of the work that The Wave Project has done for young people. I really believe in the ocean being an inclusive space, and have never wanted to simply coach people to catch waves. I’m so stoked to be able to work with these children, and introduce them to surfing.
If you feel the tug to help, to join The Wave Project team you don’t need any previous experience as training is provided. You just need to be passionate about helping to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people via surf and the sea. Whether your skills lie in an office environment or in the ocean surfing, there are volunteer options for all. If you would like to get involved with The Wave Project, click here for more information on how to sign up as a volunteer
