The idea
Over 12 months we will deliver regular surf, skate and sea swimming sessions, for up to 8 refugee girls at a time who have been referred by our partner agency, Action Foundation.
Your pledges will fund the cost of qualified and fully insured surf and skate coaches, travel expenses to help participants access the service and high quality & culturally appropriate equipment. Our specialised support will meet the individual needs of participants, many of whom struggle with anxiety and trauma to ensure they feel safe, nurtured and welcomed. Each session will connect the girls to the natural environment as a means of therapy both mentally and physically.
A team of 6 volunteers from the local community will be recruited to assist during sessions and provide a friendly first link with the wider coastal community. This social connection will be further developed through an accompanying programme of community activity, open to all and including events such as beach cleans and film screenings.
What we'll deliver
- 22 sea swim, surf & skate sessions over a year including quality coaching & equipment.
- Recruit and train 6 community volunteers.
- A programme of inclusive public events including 2 community beach cleans & film screening event.
- Create a legacy film and photographic images for the participants to keep & share with the wider community.
- Purchase of surfboards and surf equipment for Solace Surf Club.
- Purchase of skateboards, helmets and pads for Solace Surf Club.
Why it's a great idea
Enabling refugee teenagers to spend time in and around the North Sea will benefit the mental & physical health of one of the most disadvantaged groups in our community. Girls aged 13-19 are already an underrepresented group within the coastal community but the levels of trauma that these young people have come from and continue to face on a daily basis means that the barriers they face are far greater than we can ever imagine
The North Sea and North East coastline is an amazing natural resource for all the people in the North East. Through removing barriers to participation we aim to build a more diverse coastal community that is fully representative of those who live in the North East.
Developing a team of volunteers and an inclusive community programme will bring different groups of people together in new ways.
Community activities will bring people together to protect and improve our shared natural environment, through clearing litter and debris from our local beaches.
Steps to get it done
- Purchase required equipment
- Recruit 6 volunteers
- Train volunteers
- Deliver sea, skate and surf sessions
- Deliver Community Activity
- Complete Film with screening
- Deliver photographs to participants
Legacy is an important part of this project. We anticipate that following the project the girls will have the increased confidence, skills and peer support to be able to access the coastal environment by themselves and to feel a part of the wider coastal community. Equipment obtained during this project will continue being used by the CIC for more disadvantaged and underrepresented groups.
Our team of volunteers will be registered and trained with Action Foundation as part of the project, with future volunteer opportunities
To help raise wider awareness, increase inclusivity & representation we will create a film and a series of photographs which can be shown at events within our own community and beyond. They will also have immense value to project participants as a keepsake and tangible connection to their new home.
