The Wave Project - Surf Therapy

The Wave Project is a charity that helps young people fulfil their potential. Our goal is to help young people become more resilient and celebrate their amazing life. We help them to focus on what they can do, rather than what they can’t. Using surfing and the ocean as our tools, we help them realise they can overcome any challenge. The Wave Project uses the local surfers and volunteers as mentors to help young people reduce anxiety and improve their emotional health. Our award-winning surf courses are proven to help clients increase confidence and reduce anxiety. These courses are aimed at young people aged 8-18. Most of these courses are funded and are free to clients and organisations. Our health courses are planned in advance and tailored to individual clients. To take part, participants have to be referred by someone working with them professionally. This can be a support worker, teacher, doctor, counsellor or similar. Courses last six weeks and generally run in spring and autumn, but the dates can be flexible. Most importantly, our sessions are free of any pressure to succeed – participants work at their own pace and achieve their own goals. They can work 1:1 with their mentor, or get more involved with the group. Our ethos is to be totally participant-led. The role of the surf mentor is to encourage and enable, not to push participants towards an arbitrary goal. We have found that this approach reduces anxiety and allows the young people we work with to feel empowered, enabling them to overcome challenges and develop a sense of pride in their achievements. We take referrals from professionals working with vulnerable children and young people, and also run private lessons for schools, charities and companies. Regular referrers include the NHS, social services, mental health services, GPs, family support services, counsellors and children’s charities. Sessions are delivered in small groups, with each participant assigned their own volunteer surf mentor to accompany them on land and in the water. Programmes are evidence based and proven to help the emotional wellbeing of young people. The Wave Project was founded in 2010 in Cornwall and is now a well established and hugely popular charity in the UK, with successful projects established throughout England, Scotland and Wales. In October 2018, we are hoping to launch our first pilot scheme here in Northern Ireland. The Wave Project is an award-winning charity that runs free surfing courses for disadvantaged and vulnerable young people (aged 8-18) at risk to mental health issues. Referrals are now being taken for young people in Northern Ireland. Courses last six weeks and are proven to help young people improve their confidence and self-esteem. Any professional can refer, and courses are absolutely free. Our free 'Surf Therapy' Sessions will be taking place on a Sunday at local beaches in Benone and Portrush weekly from 7th October - 11th November 2018. Each session will last 2 hours and all equipment is provided.