The Wave Project, the UK’s leading surf therapy charity, has announced plans to launch a new location for surf therapy sessions for people with impairments or disabilities.
The charity plan to create two bespoke regenerated units in the Scarborough Aquarium Top, enabling adaptive surfing to be included in the charity’s regular surf therapy courses for young people.
The development of the new site is part of Scarborough Borough Council’s Project Sunshine regeneration scheme and involves the refurbishment of units that have not been used for 15 years.
Currently, those aged eight to 18 with impairments or disabilities can be referred through local partners for the Wave Project’s existing surf therapy sessions which run from Spring to Autumn each year.
The new site offers improved accessibility for young people with physical disabilities, offering level slipway access from the site to the water’s edge, as well as disabled parking nearby.
While refurbishment of the new site has been completed, the Wave Project is now seeking local tradespeople and builders’ merchants to support on the fitting of the unit over winter, with the aim of commencing referrals and bookings in Spring 2022.
The Wave Project now works with more than 5,000 young people across the country, and aims to help young people build confidence, self-esteem and resilience through inclusion and positive reinforcement.
Councillor Jim Grieve, Scarborough Borough Council Cabinet Member for Quality of Life, said he is sure the project will “benefit children and young people” in Scarborough.
Matt Jones, Coordinator of the Wave Project, North Yorkshire, said: “We’re delighted to launch a brand-new site in Scarborough to allow many more young people living with barriers – whether impairment or disability, or mental health challenges – to benefit from our life-changing surf therapy that has already improved the health of thousands of young people across the country. Our vision is to make surfing as accessible and inclusive as possible.”
If you are a local tradesperson or represent a builders’ merchant/local business and would like to assist The Wave Project in fitting out the unit interior, or if you are interested in contributing materials, please email [email protected] for more information.
