Young people affected by cancer benefit from Surf Therapy programme

Children and young people affected by cancer are building confidence, improving wellbeing and connecting with others through a Surf Therapy programme initiated by our Active Lives HIT and funded by Somerset Wiltshire Avon and Gloucestershire (SWAG) Cancer Alliance.

The six-week pilot programme, delivered by The Wave Project at The Wave in Bristol, is supporting children and young people who are living with or recovering from cancer, alongside siblings whose lives have also been impacted by a cancer diagnosis.

Eight young people, aged 8 to 18, are taking part in the programme, including five children currently under active cancer follow-up care, two siblings and one bereaved sibling.

Watch the ITV news report from The Wave Project

The initiative forms part of SWAG Cancer Alliance’s Living With and Beyond Cancer work, recognising that the impact of cancer extends far beyond treatment and can affect emotional wellbeing, confidence, social connections and physical activity levels for both patients and their families. It has been delivered in partnership with the South West Children, Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Operational Delivery Network.

The Wave Project is a charity that uses evidence-based Surf Therapy programmes to help young people improve mental health and wellbeing. Through six structured sessions, participants are supported to develop confidence, resilience, self-esteem and positive relationships in a safe, supportive environment.

Children and young people who have experienced cancer often face ongoing challenges such as anxiety, reduced confidence, social isolation and uncertainty about the future. Feedback from families supported by regional NHS services has highlighted a need for wellbeing support that takes place outside traditional healthcare settings.

A recent survey of the paediatric cancer patients in after care also identified ongoing psychological wellbeing support as one of the greatest unmet needs for young people following their treatment.

The Surf Therapy pilot has been developed to help address this need by providing opportunities for participants to challenge themselves, build independence, strengthen relationships with peers and develop positive coping strategies that support their long-term recovery and wellbeing.

The programme will be evaluated following completion, with the findings helping to inform future support for children and young people living with and beyond cancer across the South West.

Partners hope the pilot will help establish a sustainable model for future cohorts, ensuring more families can benefit from similar wellbeing opportunities in the years ahead.

Professor Tim Whittlestone, Chief Medical and Innovation Officer at Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Chair of Bristol Health Partners, and Deputy Chair of SWAG Cancer Alliance, said:

“We are delighted to support this innovative programme in partnership with The Wave Project, offering surf therapy to children and young people affected by cancer.

While high-quality medical care remains at the heart of the support we provide, we also recognise the vital role that emotional wellbeing, physical activity and peer support play in helping young people recover and thrive after cancer treatment.

For many children and families, the impact of cancer continues long after treatment has ended. This programme offers young people the opportunity to build confidence, develop resilience and connect with others who may have shared similar experiences, away from a clinical environment.

We hope this pilot will demonstrate the value of Surf Therapy as part of a wider approach to supporting children and young people living with and beyond cancer.”

Tim Trythall from The Wave Project said:

“We are incredibly proud to have developed this pathway for young people affected by cancer, with the care and expertise of the South West Children, Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Network team helping to make it possible. Knowing what each young person and their family has been through makes it a real privilege to welcome them into the water.

Our evidence-based programmes bring together time in blue spaces, the physical activity of learning to surf, and support from our amazing volunteer Surf Mentors. It’s been brilliant to see these young people enjoying themselves in the waves, with families cheering them on from the shoreline.

This pilot is an exciting step towards opening up more early mental health and wellbeing support in blue spaces for young people affected by cancer, and we’re looking forward to learning from the programme as it develops.”

The mother of one of the participants in the programme, Isla, said the sessions have already had a positive impact on her mood and confidence:

“Isla has been really enjoying these sessions. She was anxious about attending the first session and almost didn’t want to come as she had had a bad day. I encouraged her to go as she loves being in water. After the first session she said, ‘It’s amazing how that has completely changed my mood!’. She was buzzing with excitement afterwards.

From a parents point of view, it has genuinely made me emotional each week watching her achieve something she wasn’t sure she could do, and be so excited by it. She has looked forward to each session and always has a constant smile on her face. It’s a joy to see her enjoy it so much! It’s already improved her mood and confidence levels hugely as she’s realised she can achieve something that is challenging, and we’re only halfway through.”