Wooden Spoon, the children’s charity of rugby, has made a substantial donation of more than £30,000 to show its support for The Wave Project and its innovative surf therapy programmes.

The Wave Project has a proven track record of profoundly impacting the lives of young people through its NHS-recognised interventions. The Wooden Spoon grant will help the pioneering initiative to continue its vital work across Dorset, Isle of Wight, Cornwall and Scotland, harnessing the transformative power of surfing to help young people suffering from mental health challenges build confidence, reduce anxiety and improve their overall well-being.

By providing a fun and supportive environment, the charity empowers participants to develop resilience, cultivate social skills and experience a sense of accomplishment.

The Wooden Spoon’s funding has been instrumental in supporting this life-changing initiative across the UK, ensuring that young people can access this unique resource.

“We are thrilled to support The Wave Project and its expansion,” said Barry Monahan at Wooden Spoon.

He added, “Mental health challenges among young people are a growing concern, and we believe that surf therapy offers a creative and effective way to address these issues. By supporting The Wave Project, we aim to make a positive impact on the lives of many young individuals in communities up and down the country.”

Ramon Van de Velde, Chief Executive Officer of The Wave Project, said, “We are incredibly grateful for the Wooden Spoon’s generous support and belief in the transformative power of surf therapy. Time and again, we witness our interventions’ profound impact on children and young people – replacing anxiety with accomplishment, insecurity with confidence and new-found resilience. This funding will enable us to provide even more children and young people with the opportunity to participate in our programmes across the UK.”

You can learn more about The Wave Project at its website www.waveproject.co.uk.