A new study has found that surf therapy can improve wellbeing, confidence and connection among young people even when programmes are delivered away from the coast.
The evaluation by mental health charity The Wave Project examined surf therapy programmes at 22 coastal sites and two inland wave pools in the UK, including Lost Shore Surf Resort near Edinburgh and The Wave in Bristol.
The research is believed to be the first of its kind to examine surf therapy across both coastal and inland settings.
It included feedback from 360 young people who completed the charity’s six-week programme in 2025.
The findings showed significant positive outcomes for young people taking part in both coastal and inland programmes, although the charity noted that the two environments are not identical.
Lost Shore became a partner of The Wave Project in 2024, allowing the charity to deliver its Surf Therapy programme at Scotland’s inland wave pool.
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Ramon Van de Velde, CEO of The Wave Project said: "This is a world-first piece of research for Surf Therapy and we're incredibly proud that The Wave Project has been able to lead on it.
"We're delighted to be working alongside partners such as The Wave in Bristol since 2020 and Lost Shore in Edinburgh since 2024, who have made it possible for us to take our Surf Therapy programmes into new environments and reach young people further from the coast.
"What the research shows is that, while coastal and inland settings aren't identical, young people experienced significant positive outcomes in both. At a time when children's mental health services are under enormous pressure, we need to think creatively about where preventative support can be delivered. Blue spaces, including inland surf facilities, have the potential to play a huge role in wellbeing. Our vision is that every child and young person who could benefit from The Wave Project's support can access it. This research gives us an important foundation for exploring how we can make that vision a reality, reaching more young people in more places."
Andy Hadden, founder of Lost Shore Surf Resort said: "My involvement with The Wave Project goes back many years, to volunteering with them at Dunbar and seeing first-hand the extraordinary impact Surf Therapy can have on young people.
"That experience was part of the inspiration for Lost Shore and our belief that the benefits of surfing shouldn’t be determined by how close you happen to live to the coast.
"This research is hugely encouraging because it shows significant positive outcomes for young people taking part in Surf Therapy in inland wave pools as well as at the coast.
"We see that impact at Lost Shore: in the confidence young people build, the connections they make and the sense of achievement that comes from doing something they may never have thought possible."
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