A Ryde woman is to host mental health swims on the Isle of Wight to offer support and encourage people to get involved in their local community.
These meetups are for having fun, getting the mental health benefits of cold water and spending time outdoors meeting new people.
All levels of experience are welcomed, however, everybody is to be responsible for their own safety and to make sure they don’t do more than they are capable of.
Paddlers and those who want to have a splash in the waves, as well as those who would rather stay dry on the beach, are invited along for a chat.
The first swim will be held on Saturday 7th November at Freshwater Bay at 12:00.
Mental health swim host, Lottie, said:
“I feel these monthly swims are important because it’s an amazing opportunity to not only try something new but also meet new people and get outdoors in the fresh sea air. After lockdown, I feel this is something we can all benefit from.
Article continues below this advertisement “The sea grounds me like nothing else and I feel that it has truly changed my life for the better. What I love about Mental Health Swims is how inclusive they are and how everyone is encouraged to join in regardless if that means a litter pick and a chat, a paddle, or a full cold water swim”.
All swims will be held on the 2nd Saturday of each month at a changing location, which you can keep up to date with on the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MentalHealthSwimsIsleOfWight.
It’s recommended you take a swimming costume or wetsuit, towel, tow float (if you have one), flask with something hot inside, tasty snack (optional but always nice), warm layers to get cozy afterwards, gloves and a bag for picking up litter.
You can follow Wight Wet Wild at https://www.instagram.com/wightwetwild/.
This sounds like an absolutely brilliant idea. Lots of fun, with health benefits as well. Can’t wait to get involved.
Surely this is a trap? Anyone who arrives to go swimming in this weather then is deemed to need further help? Great idea, IN JULY