South Shields Surf CIC

ABOUT OUR PROJECTS:

We run various projects in the water, working with young people with special educational needs and social, emotional and mental health needs as well as with young people with physical disabilities. These will be primarily surf sessions but if the conditions aren't suitable this could be changed to paddle boarding, body boarding, snorkelling or swimming and water games. We need volunteers to come in the water to support these sessions working with our young people giving them support and encouragement, helping the young people to engage with the session and get the most from it. These sessions have consistently improved wellbeing in our participants shown through improved peer to peer relations and interactions, engagement with school/home life, behaviour and decreased self reported emotional problems.

​

VOLUNTEERING REQUIREMENTS

Volunteers don't need to be a surfer and don't have to hold any qualifications as all sessions will be led by our qualified staff on ratios of 1-8 people in the water.  But volunteers do need to be confident in the water, like being in the ocean and have a positive energetic outlook.

 

WHAT WE PROVIDE:

We will sort out DBS checks for all our volunteers and provide training to be in the sessions and we can provide all the equipment needed (wetsuits etc) and volunteers can use the surf equipment whenever they like, and can pay for our volunteers travel expenses and a hot drink each session for up to £5 per session. Our previous volunteers have said how much they have enjoyed the sessions and got lots from it for themselves:

"I thought they were super fun. I felt like we had loads of help and because there were usually one mentor per each child, you always felt like help was close at hand. One of the most rewarding things I have done."

"I already enjoyed surfing, but the sessions showed me how much of a positive impact it has on people."