Funding secured for Bristol Para Surf Club, and our Women & Girls in Coaching Series!
We’re super stoked to have secured funding from the FatFace Foundation, through their Team Risers Project Fund, for these two really amazing initiatives.
Team Risers Project Fund
The FatFace Foundation Team Risers Project exists as a grant-giving fund to invest in grassroots sports projects, and to promote equity and inclusion within sport. At Surfing England, we aim to make life better through surfing, and we believe that our sport can change lives. Surfing isn’t just about riding waves; it’s also about building community, connecting with the natural environment, and finding joy and challenge in movement. However, we know surfing can be inaccessible or seem unwelcoming to particular demographics, and we’re working to change that.
Bristol Para Surf Club
When living with a disability, people are twice as likely to be inactive, and easy access to sport remains limited for this demographic in spite of demand. Surfing can be especially inaccessible for those living with disabilities, often due to a lack of adequate beach access or adapted kit. Funded by FatFace Team Risers, the Bristol Para Surf Club will be based at The Wave, and will offer para surfers the chance to surf together in an accessible setting. Volunteers and coaches will be trained to deliver these sessions on a monthly basis, and the club will also offer community-building activity out of the water.
“This is such an exciting opportunity to continue to develop para surfing across England. The formation of the Bristol Para Surf Club will give surfers with disabilities the chance to surf regularly, affordably and to connect with other surfers. With the support of the FatFace Foundation we will be enable more surfers with disabilities to access the water with experienced coaches and volunteers.” – Jack Patching, Adaptive Pathway Manager at Surfing England
Women & Girls in Coaching Series
The Women & Girls in Coaching Series is part of Surfing England’s commitment to making the line-up a more inclusive, welcoming place for all. With the support of the FatFace Foundation, this Series will fund 10 women, or girls aged 16+, to complete their beach lifeguard and surf instructor training. These fully-trained female surf coaches will then go back to their surf clubs and local communities as inspirational role models, confident in their ability to lead and train others in the water. Given recent events at the GB Cup in Thurso, coupled with the high drop-out rate of teenage girls in surfing, which is mirrored across many sports, the need for this Series feels greater than ever.
“We’re absolutely stoked to have the support of the FatFace Foundation to run our Women & Girls in Coaching series. The new coaches we qualify will be empowered to return to their clubs and surf communities ready to run new coaching sessions, passing on their knowledge and skills, giving female surfers of all ages inspirational role models to train and surf with. We’ll use the Women & Girls in Coaching series to raise the profile of female surf coaches across the country.” – Frankie Hemery, Membership Lead at Surfing England
Frankie, Membership Lead at Surfing England
Calling all Surf Clubs!
Do you have some amazing candidates for our Women & Girls in Coaching Series? We’d love to hear from the women and girls in your club – applications are now open!
Stay stoked and see you in the lineup, Surfing England.
