Always on
This project successfully funded on 19th March 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
Help Surfability: Adapt, Surf, Inspire
Swansea, United Kingdom
Aim
Help us to raise £30,000 keep working at our current capacity until grant funding is secured.
Who are we?
Surfability UK CIC is a pioneering Community Interest Company (CIC) in Wales that provides adaptive and inclusive surfing lessons and experiences for people with disabilities, illnesses, injuries, or learning difficulties, using specialized equipment like tandem surfboards and beach wheelchairs to make surfing accessible for everyone. Operating from two buildings at Caswell Bay on the Gower Peninsula purpose built for us by our community through DIY SOS. We combine expert surf instruction, lifeguarding and therapeutic approaches to offer year-round adapted surfing, providing the joy and benefits of surfing to individuals who are often excluded.
Why are we crowdfunding?
We have just successfully completed delivery of a 4 year funded project but now have a gap in funding and we don't want to reduce our capacity. Last year we worked with around 400 adults and 1000 children! Crowdfunding helps us bridge the gap between our mission to be fully inclusive and the significant costs involved in running a specialized adaptive surf school, ensuring everyone gets a chance to surf.
- Inclusivity: To break down barriers for people with disabilities, offering tailored surf experiences (tandem, prone, seated).
- Affordability: To subsidize session costs, making surfing accessible to those who can't afford the full price. We often work with people who require as much as four to one support. We have the equipment and expertise to make surfing accessible to people with high support needs and don't want cost to be barrier to participation.
- Operational Costs: To cover the running of our purpose-built facilities and expert coaching.
How we’ll spend the money raised
- Offer subsidised spaces in our groups to people on low incomes or who have high support needs.
- Deliver around 400 hours of inclusive, adapted surfing sessions. (This can vary based on staff-to-participant ratios and support needs.) We expect to engage around 300 people with this funding.
- Focus on delivery and our surfers well-being rather than on constant reports and having to prove the value of our work.
If we exceed our funding target we will be able to provide even more sessions!
Community impact
For Individuals & Families:
- Empowerment & Joy: We offer unforgettable experiences, building confidence and happiness through catching waves, even for those who can't sit or lie unaided, thanks to our unique equipment like our seated tandem board.
- Inclusive Environment: We meet people where they are, then combine skills from special education, healthcare, surf coaching and lifeguarding to create a safe, tailored space, ensuring everyone feels seen, heard, and supported.
- Community Connection: We connect individuals and families with shared experiences, creating a strong support network.
For the Local Community & Beyond:
- World-Leading Expertise: We develop and share best practices, co-authoring the International Surfing Association (ISA) Adaptive Surf Instructor Qualification, setting global standards.
- Volunteer Opportunities: We have an amazing group of volunteers that we want to grow! We can offer you the addictive joy of helping others achieve surfing goals.
- Infrastructure Development: Our growth led to the development of eco-friendly, purpose-built facilities at Caswell Bay with accessible changing rooms, improving local amenities and setting a standard for inclusive infrastructure in blue spaces.
- Global Recognition: We participate in and manage teams for international adaptive surfing championships, putting the Gower Peninsula on the world map for adaptive sport.
Overall Impact:
- We transform lives by breaking down barriers to ocean access, proving that surfing can be for everyone.
- We creates a positive ripple effect through kindness, community support, and the promotion of well-being
How you can play your part
There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.
1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!
2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.
3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!
4. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made