Working closely with a great project, the Wave Project.

Water is at the heart of Reach Outdoors, all of us here are all drawn to it, either in the sea, rivers or lakes we all take so much pride in passing on our passions of exploring them through different activities to all our clients.

That’s why when the opportunity to work with the wave project came up we all jumped at the chance https://www.waveproject.co.uk/  .

The wave project is a surf therapy project that has been running since 2011 after a pilot scheme to show that the young participants all felt calmer, less angry, more connected with each other and grew in confidence.

The wave projects mission statement; to enable young people who are struggling to prove to themselves that “I can do it!” and the greater awareness on mental health issues in young people sums up how great and important the wave projects is.

From that first polite scheme in 2010 the research has continued, and the wave project now has information on over 3000 young people who completed robust questionnaires before and after their courses to greater understand the impact of being in the surf therapy courses.

The Wave Project courses are designed to help young people to;

·         feel more positive about themselves

·         be more resilient to cope with other problems in their lives

·         have great self-esteem and self-worth

·         improve ‘social wellbeing’ – the ability to make friends and form social relationships, and

·         improve their vitality – fitness, risk taking and passion for life.

Along with the young people the courses can only run with the help of funding (children in need) and volunteers who give up their weekends to offer young people support in getting on boards and in the sea. “It’s just so rewarding to help children; I recommend volunteering to anyone.” Jenny Wickham, Shop & Event/Fundraising Volunteer.

If you would like to find out more about volunteering (from ages 14 and up) or donating, please visit https://www.waveproject.co.uk/get-involved/.

Reach Outdoors has been working with the Wave Project since April 2018 on their 6-week courses that run throughout the year. Although from our base at Goodrington Sands we don’t often get a lot of swell the young people and volunteers still have lots of fun on paddle boards and our giant SUP ensuring we can still focus all our sessions on the Wave Projects learning outcomes.

“Before Josh started the wave project, he was extremely anxious, isolated, depressed had no friends and no hope, the minute he got in the water with Katie and team he was beaming, a genuine smile, I stood watching him (with tears in my eyes) having fun and interacting with everyone, he didn’t stop talking about it all the way home, was excited for his next session, Josh, is so much more relaxed, calmer and has made friends, and is so much happier, which shows at home and school, he has now joined the surf club. I can’t thank you all enough”. (Grandmother of Josh, who took part in a course run by Reach Outdoors at Goodrington).

https://www.waveproject.co.uk/art-commission-doanted-to-charity/ Another way to help this great Project is to buy some Art by a local artist who is donating to the Wave Project.