Surf Therapy Boost – Wooden Spoon Donates Over £30,000 to The Wave Project

Wooden Spoon, the renowned children’s charity of rugby, has announced a substantial donation of over £30,000 to support The Wave Project.

This significant grant will empower the surf therapy charity to extend its vital services across Dorset, Isle of Wight, Cornwall, and Scotland. The funding aims to harness the transformative power of surfing to aid young people grappling with mental health challenges, enhancing their confidence, reducing anxiety, and improving overall well-being.

The Impact of Surf Therapy

The Wave Project, recognised by the NHS, has demonstrated a profound impact on young people’s lives through its innovative surf therapy programmes. By offering a fun and supportive environment, the charity helps participants develop resilience, social skills, and a sense of accomplishment. This funding from Wooden Spoon will ensure more young people across the UK have access to these life-changing experiences.

Barry Monahan from Wooden Spoon expressed his excitement about the partnership, saying, “We are thrilled to support The Wave Project and its expansion. Mental health challenges among young people are a growing concern, and we believe that surf therapy offers a creative and effective way to address these issues. By supporting The Wave Project, we aim to make a positive impact on the lives of many young individuals in communities up and down the country.”

A Grateful Response

Ramon Van de Velde, Chief Executive Officer of The Wave Project, shared his gratitude for the support, stating, “We are incredibly grateful for Wooden Spoon’s generous support and belief in the transformative power of surf therapy. Time and again, we witness our interventions’ profound impact on children and young people – replacing anxiety with accomplishment, insecurity with confidence, and new-found resilience. This funding will enable us to provide even more children and young people with the opportunity to participate in our programmes across the UK.”

About Wooden Spoon

Wooden Spoon is a dedicated charity focused on helping children and young people with disabilities or facing disadvantage across the UK and Ireland. For over 30 years, Wooden Spoon has funded projects that support the health and well-being of these young individuals, including sensory rooms, gardens, specialist equipment, and facilities.

About The Wave Project

Founded in 2010, The Wave Project pioneered the world’s first surf therapy course funded by a government health service. Based in Cornwall, the charity has expanded across the UK, including North Yorkshire, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Wight, Brighton, and London. With 33 staff and over 1,500 trained volunteer surf mentors, The Wave Project has positively impacted over 12,000 young people through its evidence-based surf therapy courses.

For more information on The Wave Project and its initiatives, visit The Wave Project.

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This donation marks a significant milestone in Wooden Spoon’s ongoing mission to support the mental health and well-being of young people across the UK, further solidifying the impact of surf therapy as a powerful tool for positive change.