£12,000 grant will provide free surfing lessons for people with disabilities

Adults with disabilities or learning difficulties in Cornwall who are out of work are being offered free surfing lessons to help built their motivation and self esteem.

Specialist disabled surf school Freedom Surf has secured a £12,000 community grant to run the project, funded by the Skills Funding Agency through the European Social Fund.

It is open to anyone in Cornwall over the age of 16 who has a disability or learning difficulty, and is currently out of work.

Participants will receive a course of 12 free surfing lessons over July, August and September.

They will work in small groups of five, and learn from trained instructors how to surf to a reasonable standard.

It is hoped that the experience will build their self esteem and encourage them to move towards further training, volunteering or paid work.

Freedom Surf director Joe Taylor said: “This is a really good opportunity for people with disabilities in Cornwall to have fun and build their self confidence.

“All the lessons are free, and we will also meet their travel costs and childcare costs if necessary.

“The project will be closely monitored and we will be encouraging participants to give us feedback about how the experience is affecting them.

“Hopefully some of them will feel inspired to go on to do volunteering or paid work, but mainly it’s about giving them a positive experience.”

Freedom Surf are now looking for 20 people to take part in the project. They must be over 16, have a disability or learning difficulty, and be out of work. 

Jamie Murden of Cornwall Development Company, which manages the grant programme, said: “This is a great project, which provides the chance for people who wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to go surfing to take part in a fun activity and at the same time learn something new”.

The project start date is July 22.  Anyone who is interested in applying should send an email to freedom@freedomsurf.org or phone 01872 321543.