We're still collecting donations
On the 5th September 2022 we'd raised £737 with 20 supporters in 42 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.
Wild Water Wellbeing
by Escape Wild Water Wellbeing Courses in Helston, Cornwall, United Kingdom
Total raised £1,022
raised so far21
supportersTo fund a course delivering sustainable positive changes through cold water therapy for referred patients struggling with poor mental health
by Escape Wild Water Wellbeing Courses in Helston, Cornwall, United Kingdom
New stretch target
Running more courses builds the community around wild swimming for mental health support. As the community grows, with those involved aware of the safe practices they need to consider our role becomes less needed.
Since the pandemic the number of people struggling with their mental health has increased considerably from previously already high figures. The Kings fund have also noted that the systems in place to deal with these patients is over stretched.
£720 allows us to run a six session course for 8-10 people. We know the need is out there so we'd like to offer this to ten times that amount of people and run 10 courses in Cornwall this year releasing pressure on our health services.
Escape Swims is working with local social prescribing teams to run a 6 week course of cold water therapy for patients with poor mental health and other long term medical conditions. Your donation will help to fund a course helping those in need access help.
Our courses offer a safe and structured way for patients who are nervous or unsure of swimming in the sea or lakes to access the benefits of cold water immersion. Over the six week course patients will learn to take part in wild swimming safely, some key breathing techniques to help them not only overcome the stress of cold shock as they enter the water, but also to help them overcome stressful situations in their day to day lives.
The positive effects of cold water immersion happen very quickly with the euphoric feelings coming immediately after that first swim and with resilience and acclimatisation building over the 6 sessions. Those entering the water are immediately present in that moment, something that other mindful activities take considerable time to achieve. Similar courses supporting patients with anxiety and mental health concerns in the South West reported a so called 'Cure' rate of 70%.
The end aim of the course is that those taking part have built their confidence to be able to continue cold water swimming independently through joining one of the many organised groups in the area or through continuing with the social connections made throughout the course.
The funds pay for the facilitator/coach and lifeguard, administration, petrol and parking, refreshments, professional fees and swimming hat for patients to be safely seen.
Each course allows up to ten patients access to this support and our aim is that we offer additional training and support for willing graduates of the course to offer ongoing support to future graduates. Accessing cold water over a longer period of time has seen patients with long term illnesses such as chronic pain, fibromyalgia and migraines experience significant reductions in symptoms restoring control and independence to their lives.
We are a recent start up, but with over 20 years of experience in swimming, coaching, lifesaving, wellbeing and safeguarding. We are working closely with local social prescribing teams to offer these courses and to conduct research to show the efficacy of this lifestyle medicine.
Rewards
This project offered rewards
£100 or more
Free T-shirt
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