Surf therapy provides a revolutionary approach to mental health support. By taking therapy out of sterile rooms and into the dynamic environment of the beach and the sea, we create an identity-building experience and build trust that creates lasting change for children aged between 8 - 18 years old.
Categories
Beneficiaries
1 in 5 children suffer with their mental health and there is a backlog of 500,000 children in the UK who are diagnosed and waiting for NHS support. Traditional mental health services struggle to engage children, with low rates of participation and limited effectiveness. As a society we are facing a family mental health crisis with 50% of lifelong mental health problems established by the age of 14. This has an impact on families as the challenges affect not just children but entire families.
Born on a beach in Cornwall in 2010, we have grown to become a national charity that changes over 2500 young lives across the UK each year. Surf Therapy draws on the significant psychological powers of surfing, being in the water and feeling part of a community. Over six weeks young people learn to surf through 1:1 support from one of our 1,600 local volunteers. Our unique approach unlocks three vital social and emotional skills, self-confidence, optimism and building positive relationships.
