Call for Inclusive Access to Sea Therapy

A Jersey charity is making waves in Guernsey by bringing the benefits of the sea to people of all abilities.

Healing Waves, which offers therapy through adaptive surfing and paddle boarding, is running sessions for adults and children with disabilities and additional needs. It is the third year the group has delivered its programme on the island.

“Our aim is simple – to get anyone into the water,” said co-founder Max Wiltshire. “It doesn’t matter if someone is living with a disability or facing a mental health challenge. The ocean should be inclusive for everyone.”

For some participants, progress begins with small steps. “Not every success is about standing on a board,” Mr Wiltshire explained. “It can be touching the sand for the first time, getting used to the board, and gradually finding the confidence to head out into the sea.”

The charity provides tailored support, including one-to-one sessions, which Mr Wiltshire said had proven highly effective. Instructors in pale blue tops guided participants at Vazon beach, where students from St Sampson’s High School joined in to learn new skills.

One pupil, Ben, described the experience as “quite intense” but fun, while his classmate Jack called it “absolutely amazing.”

Healing Waves also links its work to wider health initiatives, with surfing increasingly used in social prescribing. Research continues to highlight the positive impact of the ocean on mental health and wellbeing.

“Getting on the water brings calm, presence and tranquillity,” Mr Wiltshire said. “It helps people reconnect with themselves in a way daily life doesn’t always allow. That’s the power of the sea.”