2nd July 2008
Surf Relief UK to launch project 'Surfable' 2008 at the White Stuff Surf Relief Festival.
Surf Relief, the UK’s leading surfing charity, is launching Project Surfable through a network of surf schools across England, starting with a press launch at its annual fund raising event, the White Stuff Surf Relief Festival on July 26th at Watergate Bay in Newquay, Cornwall.
Across Britain’s east and south coasts, a network of surf schools will provide opportunities for hundreds of disabled children to ride waves on some of the country’s most beautiful beaches. The schools in the network are to provide an experience of a lifetime in a safe environment.
All schools use experienced, highly qualified instructors and specialist equipment, such as soft tandem 11ft boards, which allow the participant and instructor to ride the surf together. Through the network, the charity subsidises one-to-one surfing lessons for a wide range of disabilities. At just £20, individual tuition is 20% of a standard lesson fee.
This is the first time such opportunities have been provided in large numbers and in so many locations in the UK. For most disabled young people, the idea of undertaking an extreme sport such as surfing is a just a dream, one that only able bodied people usually take part in.
Following the blueprint of similar, successful schemes in America, the charity’s aim is to break down these assumptions, allowing children who face daily physical and learning challenges the chance to experience such a therapeutic sport.
The project will be launched at Surf Relief’s annual funding raising event, the White Stuff Surf Relief Festival, at Watergate Bay on July 26th. Throughout the day, 30 disabled children and young people have the opportunity to sign up for a free lesson from the network’s instructors (participants must book in advance via Lis Leader lisleader@lifeworks-uk.org and make their own travel arrangements).
Dave Manley, TSRUK Chairman, said, ‘Surf Relief UK is a small charity achieving big things. Our Project Surfable is an exciting, challenging and unique venture that aims to use surfing to improve the lives of disabled and disadvantaged young people. Experience shows that taking part in surfing improves an individual’s well being. I have seen examples of autistic children who are normally introverted and unresponsive become animated and ecstatic just by riding a board in through the surf on their stomachs.’
Andy Joyce, of Bournemouth Surf Academy agrees, “Project Surfable will make a real difference to the lives of many disabled and disadvantaged young people. For many of these, a trip to Devon or Cornwall would not be possible and Surf Relief’s national network provides opportunities much closer to home and for a greatly reduced cost.
About Project Surfable - introducing disabled young people to surfing.
Objectives
* To improve the health, well-being and self esteem of those participating and provide the young people (under 18 yrs) with a fun and new experience.
* To facilitate sustainable national network of quality and safe surfing opportunities for disabled people of all ages.
About Surf Relief UK
To facilitate the provision of surfing lessons, tasks to include:
* Development of network of surfing schools capable of providing high quality coaching for disabled young people
* Provision of specific training for surf coaches
* Provision of match funding for related projects
* Fundraising for the scheme
* Administration and co-ordination of the scheme
* Promotion and marketing of the scheme (in partnership with schools in the network).
Network Surf Schools
The network currently includes six surf schools, below. These will become specialist centres able to cater for the tuition of the disabilities selected. The number and coverage of surf schools involved in the network will expand as the charity grows. All schools adhere to guidelines required by the British Surfing Associations Registered Schools scheme. Project Surfable will subsidise £20 and the surf schools will subsidise £40 of each lesson.
* Big Blue Surf School – Bude, north Cornwall – bigbluesurf@btconnect.com
* National Surfing Centre – Newquay, west Cornwall – info@nationalsurfingcentre.com
* Nick Thorn’s Surf School – Woolacombe, north Devon – nick@nickthorn.com
* Discovery Surf School – Bigbury Bay, south Devon – martin@discoverysurf.com
* Bournemouth Surf School – Bournemouth, – andy@bournemouthsurfschool.co.uk
* Joss Bay Surf School – Joss Bay, Kent – info@jossbay.co.uk
The Network
Provide centres of training to include:
* Employment of coaches, trained and experienced in working with disabled people
* Provision of suitable equipment
* Health and safety responsibilities for those taking part in surfing lessons
* Promotion of the scheme through schools promotional material/website, in partnership with Surf Relief UK
* Disabled children from the cities who wish to take part should contact the Kent or Bournemouth schools
How it works
It’s easy! Any disabled young person, under 18, wishing to experience surfing (or their carer, parent or guardian on behalf of the pupil) should contact their local network school. They will be required to fill in a registration form and the specific disabilities of the pupil will be matched to a suitable level of tuition. The person with parental responsibility will be required to be present for the whole of the lesson and can join the pupil in the water as long as they are a competent swimmer. All necessary equipment will be provided by the surf school, the lesson will be one to one instructor-pupil ratio. The approximate duration of lesson will be between 1.5 and 3 hours depending on environmental conditions and personal enthusiasm and ability.
Press Call - Saturday 26th July
You are invited to meet Dave Manley and hear more about Project Surfable at the White Stuff Surf Relief Festival on Saturday July 26th from 11am at Watergate Bay, Newquay, Cornwall, TR8 4AA.
Please RSVP to discuss that and/or to request press tickets to the event:
Sam Pow - National Media: 0044 7957 231314 / sampow@mac.com
Jim Michell - Regional Media & TV: 0044 1208 895089 / jim@barefootmedia.co.uk
Dave Manley - Chairman of Surf Relief UK: 0044 7771 943274
Volunteer and attend the White Stuff Surf Relief Festival for free!
Organisers of the White Stuff Surf Relief Festival are seeking volunteers to be part of country’s only surfing and live music festival on a beach. Help is needed to manage the site on Saturday 26th July and ensure the smooth running of the event, including marshalling the large volumes of traffic and pedestrians on site at Watergate Bay and in the car parking areas in the vicinity. Volunteers should expect to spend six hours on duty throughout the day (in either a.m. or p.m. shifts), with regular breaks to enjoy their free entry to the beach events and live music on the beach. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Phil Williams by emailing: phil@christiansurfers.co.uk
ENDS
Images
High resolution print-ready images can be downloaded here.
Notes For Editors
Surf Relief UK was set up to help co-ordinate the UK surfing community’s response to the Asian tsunami of Boxing Day 2004. Having experienced the generosity of the surfing community, organisers realised that there was potential to raise further funds for other projects by acting as the UK’s surfing charity. Project ‘Surfable’ introduces disabled young people to the sport of surfing - for many a life changing experience - by funding subsidised lessons through a network of established surf schools around the country.
White Stuff, the fashion lifestyle clothing label, are sponsors of the Extreme Academy and supply staff uniforms for The Hotel & Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay, and Fifteen Cornwall. Founded in 1985, the company have 45 White Stuff shops and over 100 wholesale outlets throughout the UK, as well as a website and mail order business. The brand is definitely fashion for lovers not victims – and this is reflected in the relaxed styling, lovely detailing and discreet branding on their quality clothing.
Fifteen Cornwall opened on 18th May 2006. The restaurant offers an innovative menu of the best seasonal and local produce, a relaxed atmosphere, talented chefs and an incredible view over a beautiful two-mile beach. Fifteen Cornwall is dedicated to the same inspirational social enterprise goals set out by Jamie Oliver and the team at Fifteen London. Each year the restaurant gives up to 20 trainee chefs a unique opportunity to turn their lives around. All profits from Fifteen Cornwall go to the registered charity the Cornwall Foundation of Promise.
The Extreme Academy, Watergate Bay is one of Britain’s leading venues for beach sports and events. Founded in 1999, the Extreme Academy comprises specialist schools for surfing, kitesurfing, waveski, stand-up paddlesurf and mountainboarding; technical equipment hire; and the Extreme Store, stocking a wide range of clothing and technical equipment. The Beach Hut, located on the ground floor of the Extreme Academy, is well known as Cornwall’s coolest beach hangout, and a great place to eat.
The Hotel, Watergate Bay has emerged from a £2 million programme of investment as a must-visit beach destination. With the public areas and bedrooms all refurbished in the past three years, the décor is beach house chic throughout. The contemporary modern look, award-winning dining and relaxed atmosphere are only topped by The Hotel’s unbeatable location right on the beach.
Media Contact - PR on behalf of the White Stuff Surf Relief Festival.
Jim Michell at Barefoot Media -
Telephone: +44 (0)1208 895089 Email: jim@barefootmedia.co.uk
Sam Pow - Telephone: 07957 231314 Email: sampow@mac.com
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