Surf Action, the armed forces community mental health charity based in west Cornwall, is delighted to launch two cross-sectional reports that examine its efficacy, services and outcomes to 200 veterans and 315 young people over the last five years.
Both reports are deliberately written, and the data presented, in a format that is easily understandable to the general public as well as academics. The analysis shows that Surf Action has achieved statistically very significant and more importantly, sustainable outcomes in supporting the physical and psychological resilience of the armed forces community. The reports are written by one of Surf Action’s volunteers, a veteran with a 2-1 honours degree in pure mathematics who is on a war pension and now also has cystic fibrosis to deal with but who gets into the water and the gym every week with Surf Action to continue to sustain their own physical and psychological wellbeing.
Surf Action is not going to rest on its laurels though and has a busy summer of six, eight-week (half a day a week for 8 weeks) ocean-therapy courses for a total of 60-armed forces community children (and their parents/carers!). The courses are already fully subscribed, and the first children can expect an exhilarating, challenging, and no doubt chilly start on Saturday 6 April at Praa Sands. All wetsuits, boards and tuition are free.
What Surf Action is achieving is perhaps best summed up by the Commander of RNAS Culdrose who commented:
“Surf Action offers so much in terms of resilience to all who are fortunate enough to participate and is now an essential element in our armoury of welfare and support.”
The reports can be downloaded using the following links:
