SUP Bristol in the community
Paddleboarding for Wellbeing
We’ve worked with Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership on a heavily subsidised Wellbeing for Paddleboarding course for people under the care of the Bristol Early Intervention Team. Feedback indicated that the participants felt calmer, more relaxed, happier and more motivated after taking part. The five ways to wellbeing suggests connecting, taking notice, learning, giving and being active. Our groups were able to do all of these in one form or another over the four week course.
Social prescribing
We’re delighted to work with Wellspring Settlement to offer regular relaxed social paddles aimed at improving wellbeing, health and fitness. We meet weekly during the summer to learn new skills, socialise with others in the community and keep fit and active. Adults of any age and ability are welcome, and no SUP experience is necessary. Please contact Wellspring for more information.
This Mum Runs
This Mum Runs is a worldwide community of women who support eachother to be fitter and more active. Our social SUP events are always a big hit and we’ve been able to end some with some much deserved quiet time lying on the boards, water lapping, while hot air balloons fly overhead. Bliss.
People of Colour Paddle
People of Colour Paddle is a nationwide community initiative to increase participation of people of colour in paddlesports within the UK with the view of connecting often urbanised communities back to nature.. We’re delighted to run pay what you can intros and regular sessions to increase diversity on the water. Our 2022 pilot was a huge success, selling out completely, and we’re now supporting one of the participants to train as an instructor. We can’t wait to do more to challenge who calls themselves a paddler.
It’s fair to say our staff team isn’t representative of the city as a whole right now. We’d like to change that and we’re particularly looking for People of Colour who would like to train to be SUP coaches and guides. We’d love to support you to get there. Keenness is more important than experience. Please get in touch or check out Adya’s blog ‘Why should people of colour paddle?’.
Alternative education and youth work
We partner with youth organisations that use adventure to transform the lives of young people. Most recently we’ve worked with Prince’s Trust on their Explore programmes – building personal skills and confidence through an entry week of teambuilding adventurous activities.
Charity fundraising events
We organise three hugely popular events a year raising thousands annually for our incredible charity partners – Frank Water (working to provide safe drinking water and sanitation), RNLI (saving lives at sea), and Caring in Bristol (working with people experiencing homelessness).
Stand up for Safe Water
Now in it’s 4th year, Stand Up For Safe Water is a brilliant opportunity to spend time with colleagues and friends, safely outdoors whilst raising awareness and money for Frank Water’s vision of a world where everyone can access safe drinking water toilets and good hygiene.
RNLI SUP Cup
Our original SUP challenge pits corporate teams against each other on SUPs, with the incredible backdrop of Bristol’s historic harbourside. The RNLI SUP Cup has run with huge success since 2016, raising around £5000 a year to help save lives at sea.
Santa SUP
Our annual Christmas fundraiser is a great chance to dig out fairy lights and santa costumes and join us for a mass paddle to raise money for Caring in Bristol, working to support those facing homelessness and bring about long lasting change.
Accessible adventures
The thing that first drew us to SUP was how accessible it is. What happens if you fall off? You just get back on again! Even learning to paddle a kayak straight takes some time – there’s none of that with SUP. Over the years we’ve supported some inspirational people to get on the water and had loads of fun along the way!
Back in 2019 we worked with David Constantine MBE on a SUP prototype for wheelchair users. We were blown away by his passion, skill and knowledge of adapting equipment and put him in touch with leading board manufacturer Red Paddle Co.
Later, a prototype was through its paces by one of our members (Stephen is a surfer, paddleboarder and wheelchair user). Red launched the Red Paddle All Ride 12’0 in 2022 – a board specifically aimed at providing adventures for all. We’re really proud to have played a small part in connecting the dots to make this happen.
We’ve also worked with people with visual and hearing impairments, learning along the way that although Labradors are natural swimmers, guide dogs are perhaps best left on the bank and Labradors are natural swimmers!
The biggest thing we’ve learned is that there’s not much that will stop us getting people on the water and giving it a go. If we need to adapt kit we will. We may offer 1:1 session to test the water, or we might just put an extra instructor on to increase confidence. We collaborate with our paddlers, accepting there is no one solution that will work for everyone. It’s all backed up by plenty of planning, great communication and a solid risk assessment process so you can be assured you’re in safe hands.
If you, or someone you know, could benefit from a bit of paddleboarding (or a new sport for that matter) please get in touch.
