Projects: WAVE surf therapy 17 Projects: Mud Kitchen

PROJECTS: ENGLAND waves of Happiness

The Van Morrison lyrics ‘smell the sea and feel the sky, let your soul and spirit fly,’ capture the essence of The Wave Project, which uses surf therapy to support youngsters experiencing anxiety, depression, disability, family breakdown or bullying. Wooden Spoon Dorset, Wiltshire

& Hampshire provided a £6,000 grant to the project, which enhances confidence, reduces isolation, increases well-being, and challenges young people to build resilience. Alice, 14, was referred by her school for a sixweek course in Boscombe, Dorset. She loved it so much, she became a volunteer. Alice’s mum Laura said: “Alice is a young carer, her dad has mental health issues and epilepsy. At this age, she really feels the responsibility. There’s all the usual teenage stuff, but this throws in a bit more. “Alice’s confidence has grown, it’s a very nurturing project. From day one they made her feel she belonged. We’re really grateful for it.” Alice said: “We surf, bodyboard, swim, or paddleboard if the waves aren’t very big. We paddleboard to the buoy – once, there were jellyfish out there, the kids were going crazy about them! “All the volunteers give you applause when you catch a wave or get close to catching one. If people aren’t confident, they always say well done just for getting in the water.

“As soon as I’m at the beach, that catharsis of hearing the waves and having your feet in the sand, it’s like no other feeling. I always refer to the beach as my happy place. It’s probably the only place I just feel pure happiness, with no worries or anxiety. “Each week I’m counting down the days, and once I’ve done it, the serotonin stays with me, it seems to carry me on through school.”

“...hearing the waves and having your feet in the sand, it’s like no other feeling. I always refer to the beach as

my happy place.” Alice

The Mud Kitchen in Bristol provides a creative and sensory play area

muddy marvellous!

It’s time to roll up your sleeves and get stuck into the messiest fun possible at the Mud Kitchen in St Paul’s Adventure Playground.

The risks of air pollution in this area of Bristol are high, and this APE Project, to which

Wooden Spoon Bristol, Bath & Somerset

provided a grant of £1,500 towards, aims to create a healthier green space for youngsters and their families. The children benefit from sensory and imaginative play in this creative and exploratory space. The youngsters have already helped with planting and watering a new orchard, vegetable site, sensory space and herb garden. Director at APE Project CiC, Guy Dobson, said: “Strawberries, raspberries, spinach, chard and mushrooms now grow on the allotment site. “We’ve also been monitoring and sending data back to Knowle West Media Centre regarding our air quality reading from the sensor they installed last year, crucial due to our location by the M32.” The Mud Kitchen was developed and designed by the children to give them a sense of ownership and to further develop their skills and experiences. Mud Kitchens are more than just the chance to explore mud, get messy and have fun, they also provide a whole variety of learning experiences.

“Strawberries, raspberries, spinach, chard and mushrooms now grow on the allotment

site.” Guy Dobson