Finance Score: 1

Governance Score: -1

Support Score: 16

Low unrestricted reserves: -2
Fundraising costs low: +3

Only 4 Trustees: -1

Large volunteers +5
Grant maker support: +11

Overall GiG Score: 16

THE WAVE PROJECT

Overview

The Wave Project uses surfing as a therapeutic tool to improve the mental health and well-being of young people. Through surf therapy programmes, they aim to reduce anxiety, boost self-esteem, and promote resilience in beneficiaries.

Effectiveness of their surf therapy course, measured via questionnaires immediately after completion, has shown significant improvements in young people’s confidence and ability to connect in social settings. This has prompted continuing commitment of schools, NHS, social services, and other referrers to pay fees for each participants inclusion, and impact hopes to increase further by growing their volunteer training capability to progress reach across the UK in coming years.

Source: Giving is Great

Mission:

To help young people improve their emotional health and wellbeing through free and subsidised surfing therapy

Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

This charity has been very successful in attracting volunteers relative to its size
The charity has received backing from multiple prominent grant makers recently
There have been no material income shortfalls in recent years
Fundraising costs are low relative to funds raised

Regulatory & Governance issues to consider:

There are only 4 trustees

Financial issues to consider:

Unrestricted reserves appear to be dangerously low at the latest year end

Established: 9 years
(13 years as a company)

www.waveproject.co.uk

info@waveproject.co.uk

01637820830

Charity Commission for England and Wales

Tweets

How you can help

Financial Data ?

Income & Spending ?

Sources of Income ?

Y/E		Income £k	Spending £k	Surplus/ Deficit	Fundraising Cost £k	Total Funds £k	Unrestricted Funds £k	Mths Rsrvs	Staff	Volun- teers
31/01/23		£1,737	£1,322	£415	£88	£672	£192	1.7	29	1,778
31/01/22		£1,478	£1,664	£-186	£63	£257	£4	0	40	1,630
31/01/21		£1,257	£1,074	£184	£37	£443	£129	1.4	27	6,000
31/01/20	*	£979	£973	£5	£132	£259	£36	0.4	25	1,396
31/01/19		£804	£799	£4	£167	£190	£109	1.6	20	2,587
31/01/18		£748	£686	£62	£181	£186	£92	1.6	17	0
31/01/17		£573	£555	£19	£35	£144	£-57	-1.2	8	0

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Financial Ratios

Fundraising Costs/Relevant Income: 5.3%
Fundraising Costs/Total Spending: 6.7%
Senior Staff Costs/Total Spending: 6%
Highest pay band: £60,000-£70,000
Liabilities/Assets: 6%
Liabilities/Income: 3%
Unrestricted Funds/Total Funds: 29%
Reserves/Spending: 1.7 months
Net Current Assets/Spending: 5 months
Quick Ratio: 7.2

Asset Split ?

What it does

The Wave Project runs award-winning surf therapy programmes for children aged 8-24 in the UK. Using a combination of qualified staff and trained volunteers, we run an evidence-based programme of peer-led surfing lessons that helps children and young adults to improve their emotional wellbeing. We also run a Beach School project for children at risk of exclusion from school.

Listed activities

Amateur Sport
Disability
Education/Training
Recreation
The Advancement Of Health Or Saving Of Lives

How it operates

Provides services

Where it operates

Northern Ireland, Scotland, Throughout England And Wales,

Who it helps

Children/Young People
Other Defined Groups
People With Disabilities

Who works here?

29 employees
1,778 volunteers

Who's supporting them? ?

Donations from Grant Makers ?

We have details on the following significant donations. Multi-year donations are allocated to the years for which they are earmarked.

Major supporters in last 5 years

National Lottery Community Fund	£663,449
Prudence Trust	£300,000
Innox Foundation	£75,000
Sport England	£54,613
Garfield Weston Foundation	£30,000
The EQ Foundation	£25,000

Specific Donations

Amount	When Months	To be used for
The EQ Foundation - Grant to THE WAVE PROJECT
£25,000	23/02/2024	Big Give Christmas Challenge 2023
Innox Foundation - Grant to The Wave Project
£50,000	15/02/2023	Funding for The Wave Project to establish their Surf Therapy programme for young adults
Quartet Community Foundation - Grant to The Wave Project
£250	08/12/2022	As directed by the donor towards surf therapy for children with physical disabilities and mental health problems. Due diligence checked.
Prudence Trust - Social Prescribing 2022 - The Wave Project
£300,000	24/11/2022	The grant will support the expansion of The Wave's fundraising, marketing and comms team.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to The Wave Project - Bigbury
£2,041	22/10/2022	We would like to use surf therapy to support young people who are struggling to build confidence and natural resilience.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to The Wave Project - Sidmouth
£2,064	22/10/2022	We use surfing and the sea to promote positive mental wellbeing and build natural resilience.
Sport England - Potentials Fund – Outdoors
£50,000	30/03/2022	Funding under Sport England's Potentials Fund funding programme for a Revenue project titled Potentials Fund – Outdoors. This project is a Multi Sports project, with a focus on younger ....more Funding under Sport England's Potentials Fund funding programme for a Revenue project titled Potentials Fund – Outdoors. This project is a Multi Sports project, with a focus on younger beneficiaries.
Two Ridings Community Foundation - Surf Therapy on the Yorkshire Coast
£5,000	11/02/2022	The main outlay for the project, behind salary, is the cost of the hire of equipment and payment of qualified lifeguards and surf coaches, using Surfing England accredited surf schools. In North ....more The main outlay for the project, behind salary, is the cost of the hire of equipment and payment of qualified lifeguards and surf coaches, using Surfing England accredited surf schools. In North Yorkshire, they currently work with all 3 surf schools in Scarborough, who offer their services at less than half of what they could charge on the open market, to help support the charity. However, this amount still comes to £10020 for one year worth of surf therapy and surf club sessions.
Innox Foundation - Grant to The Wave Project
£25,000	25/11/2021	Funding for The Wave Project to establish their Surf Therapy programme for young adults
Sussex Community Foundation - Grant to The Wave Project
£5,000	17/11/2021 11	Funding was provided to enable them to expand their surf therapy to young poeple in West Sussex and will pay for staff, project and volunteer costs.
Co-Operative Group - Grant to The Wave Project, East Cornwall
£1,962	23/10/2021	We would like to raise funds to be able to provide our surf therapy free of charge for young people in East Cornwall, and to meet rising demand.
National Lottery Community Fund - Wave Project sustainability template
£237,911	20/10/2021	The project will use the funding to create a package of sustainability and mainstreaming measures developing and actioning a template that can be applied across all local Wave projects ensuring surf ....more The project will use the funding to create a package of sustainability and mainstreaming measures developing and actioning a template that can be applied across all local Wave projects ensuring surf therapy is available to children across the UK. The Wave Project will also ensure all learning on this approach is available to be shared so that other projects seeking to mainstream or find other ways of broadening their income can learn from this project.
National Lottery Community Fund - Surf Therapy - Prescription Surf with 1:1 mentor support
£9,570	05/03/2021 11	The organisation will use the funding to expand their surf therapy activities for 60 young people; some with complex mental health challenges and physical disabilities.
Tudor Trust - Grant to Wave Project
£2,000	07/01/2021	as an additional grant to support staff, volunteer and trustee wellbeing, to assist the organisation deliver its charitable purpose more effectively
Sussex Community Foundation - Grant to The Wave Project
£3,600	19/11/2020 0	Funding was provided for project costs associated in delivering The Wave Project at Southwick Beach in 2021.
DCMS - Coronavirus Community Support Fund
£10,000	22/09/2020	"The fund aims to:1) To reduce closures of essential charities that provide essential services to vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 crisis by ensuring they have the financial resources to ....more "The fund aims to:1) To reduce closures of essential charities that provide essential services to vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 crisis by ensuring they have the financial resources to operate, thereby reducing the burden on public services.2) To ensure essential services are provided to vulnerable people, both in the short and long term through increased community support through the work of charitable organisations."
The Clothworkers Foundation - Grant to Wave Project
£12,600	03/04/2020	purchase van for a charity that works with disadvanteged young people in York & Humberside
Garfield Weston Foundation - Main Grants award
£30,000	14/02/2020	Surf Therapy
Sport England - Toyota Parasport Fund - Wave Project
£4,613	14/02/2020 24	Funding under Sport England's Toyota Parasport Fund funding programme for a Revenue project titled Toyota Parasport Fund - Wave Project. This project is a Surfing project, with a focus on ....more Funding under Sport England's Toyota Parasport Fund funding programme for a Revenue project titled Toyota Parasport Fund - Wave Project. This project is a Surfing project, with a focus on beneficiaries with a disability.
DCMS - ALB-Sport England-Toyota Parasport Fund - Wave Project
£4,613	14/02/2020	Funding under Sport England's Toyota Parasport Fund funding programme for a Revenue project titled Toyota Parasport Fund - Wave Project. This project is a Surfing project, with a focus on ....more Funding under Sport England's Toyota Parasport Fund funding programme for a Revenue project titled Toyota Parasport Fund - Wave Project. This project is a Surfing project, with a focus on beneficiaries with a disability.
National Lottery Community Fund - The Wave Project - Surf therapy for young people
£9,540	07/02/2020 1	The funding will be used to run surf therapy for young people with mental health issues. The project aims to bring the young people and local volunteers together to learn from each other and improve ....more The funding will be used to run surf therapy for young people with mental health issues. The project aims to bring the young people and local volunteers together to learn from each other and improve confidence and skills.
National Lottery Community Fund - Improve wellbeing in young people through surfing
£199,728	12/11/2019 48	The Wave Project is using a £199,728 grant for their 'Improving Wellbeing in Young People through Surfing' project which will run over the next four years. The project aims to improve the wellbeing ....more The Wave Project is using a £199,728 grant for their 'Improving Wellbeing in Young People through Surfing' project which will run over the next four years. The project aims to improve the wellbeing of 60 young people per year, aged 8-18 from the Causeway Coast and Glens and Derry and Strabane council areas who are vulnerable, isolated and experiencing mental health issues through surf therapy. It will bring 120 volunteer mentors from across Northern Ireland together to support young people to feel more positive and emotionally resilient by taking them surfing at two beaches in the Portrush area - West Strand and Benone. The young people will learn how to surf, practice their skills regularly and then later become volunteer surf mentors.
National Lottery Community Fund - The Wave Project Isle of Wight
£206,700	01/07/2019 60	The Wave Project (TWP) supports young people to feel more positive and emotionally strong through surfing. Funding will be used to cover the salary cost of a Project Coordinator, as well as general ....more The Wave Project (TWP) supports young people to feel more positive and emotionally strong through surfing. Funding will be used to cover the salary cost of a Project Coordinator, as well as general running costs.
Tudor Trust - Grant to Wave Project
£99,000	22/02/2019 36	over three years towards the salary of a regional co-ordinator for an organisation using surf therapy to support young people's mental health across the UK
Sport England - Potentials Fund – Outdoors
£151,501	23/10/2018 23	Funding under Sport England's Potentials Fund funding programme for a Revenue project titled Potentials Fund – Outdoors. This project is a Multi Sports project, with a focus on younger ....more Funding under Sport England's Potentials Fund funding programme for a Revenue project titled Potentials Fund – Outdoors. This project is a Multi Sports project, with a focus on younger beneficiaries.
National Lottery Community Fund - Wave Project Surf Club Scarborough ? Changing lives through surfing
£5,000	03/07/2018 12	This project is to deliver weekly surf sessions for young people that have completed one of the six week surf therapy sessions.
National Lottery Community Fund - Wave Project Dorset
£148,887	21/03/2018 36	The funding will be used to support young people to improve their mental and physical health, through surfing. The project uses a programme of surfing and peer-mentoring, where young people learn to ....more The funding will be used to support young people to improve their mental and physical health, through surfing. The project uses a programme of surfing and peer-mentoring, where young people learn to surf through support and guidance from local mentors and professional instructors before becoming mentors themselves.
National Lottery Community Fund - The Wave Project Scotland; Changing Lives Through Surfing
£106,000	26/07/2017 24	This group will use the funding to build their surf therapy and peer mentoring project aimed at young people aged between 8 and 24 experiencing depression, anxiety or low mood, or who have ....more This group will use the funding to build their surf therapy and peer mentoring project aimed at young people aged between 8 and 24 experiencing depression, anxiety or low mood, or who have experienced trauma caused by stress-related events such as bereavement, family breakdown or domestic violence.
Henry Smith Charity - Grant to The Wave Project
£90,000	08/06/2017 36	towards three years' running costs of a project that provides surfing and other sea sports to children and young people at risk of mental health problems in West Sussex
Garfield Weston Foundation - Main Grants award
£10,000	10/05/2017	Building Better Interventions
BBC Children in Need - Grant to The Wave Project
£85,679	09/02/2017 36	The project supports children and young people with mental health issues and learning disabilities through surfing and peer mentoring. By taking part in the activities it helps to improve confidence, ....more The project supports children and young people with mental health issues and learning disabilities through surfing and peer mentoring. By taking part in the activities it helps to improve confidence, improve emotional well-being and increase resilience.
National Lottery Community Fund - Wave Project: Scarborough
£9,620	18/01/2017 12	This project is the delivery of therapeutic surfing sessions for vulnerable children and young people, including those with autism, mental health issues and learning disabilities. This will provide ....more This project is the delivery of therapeutic surfing sessions for vulnerable children and young people, including those with autism, mental health issues and learning disabilities. This will provide positive activities, with the aim of reducing stress, depression, anxiety and social isolation.
National Lottery Community Fund - The Wave Project Surf Club â€“ Changing lives through surfing.
£35,500	29/03/2016 12	The Wave Project Surf Club â€“ Changing lives through surfing.
National Lottery Community Fund - The Wave Project - Cornwall and Devon
£475,964	13/01/2016 36	This project will use surfing to help improve the lives of 720 vulnerable young people aged 8-19 in Cornwall and North Devon. It will help those at risk of mental health problems or social isolation ....more This project will use surfing to help improve the lives of 720 vulnerable young people aged 8-19 in Cornwall and North Devon. It will help those at risk of mental health problems or social isolation due to traumatic life experiences such as bereavement, disability, sexual or domestic abuse, persistent bullying, family breakdown and those full-time caring for a parent or relative. It offers 12 months of peer mentoring, skills training and volunteering/mentoring opportunities.
National Lottery Community Fund - Wave Project Cymru
£142,000	29/07/2015 35	Wave Project Cymru
National Lottery Community Fund - The Wave Project Dorset
£138,994	10/08/2014 35	Not Available
National Lottery Community Fund - The Wave Project
£177,100	15/08/2012 36	The Wave Project supports children suffering from emotional trauma and mental health issues by using surfing to improve confidence, help them make friends and develop core life skills such as ....more The Wave Project supports children suffering from emotional trauma and mental health issues by using surfing to improve confidence, help them make friends and develop core life skills such as communication and team work. Clients undergo a six-week course run by professional surf instructors and supported by trained volunteers from the local community.

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Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How do they operate?

Surf Therapy Programme

Objectives: To help reduce anxiety and promote positive mental health in young people

Intervention period: Six weeks

Beneficiaries: Young people aged 8 to 21

Location: Locations across UK

Description: Surf therapy programmes offer young people aged 8 to 21 the opportunity to participate in a specialised surf therapy session once a week for six weeks. Each young person is referred to the course from a school or local service (e.g. GP, social services, etc) and are paired with a volunteer surf mentor to receive one-to-one support appropriate to their needs for the duration of the course

Surf Club

Objectives: To help reduce anxiety and promote positive mental health in young people

Intervention period: Dependant on the individual

Beneficiaries: Young people aged 8 to 21

Location: Locations across UK

Description: Surf Club is for young people who have completed Wave Projects surf therapy courses. It provides young people with continued access to a regular surf session at their local beaches as well as a range of other activities that gives them the opportunity to socialise and maintain friendships. Social events linked to the clubs also take place throughout the year for participants and their families

Adaptive Surfing

Objectives: To make surfing accessible to young people with physical disabilities

Intervention period: Dependant on the individual

Location: Croyde, North Devon

Description: Adaptive Surfing allows young people with a range of physical disabilities to attend surfing sessions. They are delivered by experienced, International Surf Association-accredited Adaptive Surfing coaches, alongside a team of trained volunteers. Sessions usually last two hours, depending on the weather and conditions on the day and move at the pace of the surfer. Specialist equipment is also available that includes two beach wheelchairs, a large seated board, and prone boards with handles to allow for a greater sense of independent surfing, and wetsuits with zips in the arms and legs to make changing easier and more comfortable

Beach School

Objectives: To use beaches as classrooms and engage students in unique schemes of work and lesson plans linked to the national curriculum

Location: Cornwall only

Description: Beach School is a one-day per week intervention aimed at small groups of students. Delivered on the beach and in the sea, children follow a curriculum inspired course by the ocean. Each lesson is pitched at their age group and follows a different subject area, such as maths, literacy or art

Wave Rangers

Objectives: To develop teaching staff with a model for learning outside the classroom for at-risk students

Description: Wave Rangers is a cascade learning course for teachers, HLTA's and youth leaders which creates a model for teaching outside the classroom. At the end of the course, educators will be qualified Wave Rangers Leaders and have developed their own Wave Rangers programme for at-risk students in their school or learning environment

Surf Back to School

Objectives: To use a beach setting and tailored curriculum to aid children at risk of exclusion, or excluded back into school

Location: Cornwall only

Description: Surf Back To School is a bespoke intervention for children who are at risk of exclusion, or have been excluded, from mainstream school. Usually working 1:2 with a qualified teacher and surf coach, each student progresses at their own pace with a tailored curriculum suitable for their needs

How effective are they?

	Outputs	Outcomes
Y/E	Young people supported by The Wave Project	% of Young persons increase in confidence	% of Young persons improvement in friendships
31/01/2022	2,035	14.9%	7.1%
31/01/2021	2,206	14.9%	10.3%

Notes: Impact data is based on pre- and post-intervention surveys from students taking part in surf therapy courses. Participants recorded their wellbeing before and after a course based on a 5 point scale

See what you could achieve with a donation of: £

How do we calculate this?

Who works here?

BECKY PARRY
Head of Business and Retail

Becky heads up all things relating to retail and business partnerships. She is your point of contact for enquiries about retail, brand partnerships and national events

SIOBHAN SWIFT
Head of Operations
Appointed: December 2022

Siobhán joined the organisation in 2019, having gained a background in NHS management and accountancy

SUSIE CROFT
Head of Fundraising
Appointed: April 2022

RAMON VAN DE VELDE
CEO

Ramon became part of Wave Project Following four years as Managing Director of the Lost Gardens of Heligan. He has extensive leadership experience having also held the CEO role with St Aubyn Estates and leadership roles with the Eden Project and Theatre Royal in Plymouth. He is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, and has a Masters in Personnel and Development. He’s a well known contributor to South West business life as a Non Executive Director of ....more

How is it governed?

Trustees (4)

Current Trustees appointed

Gender Split

Age Range of Trustees: 45-64

BRETT SIMPSON Appointed: 2020, Occupation: Director

GRAHAM HOOPER (Chair) Appointed: 2020, Occupation: Director

SALLY MUNDAY Appointed: 2022, Occupation: Trustee

WILLIAM ROBERTSON Appointed: 2020, Occupation: Solicitor

Legal constitution

Charitable company registered in England & Wales on 04/09/2015, number: 1163421
Registered at Companies House on 11/01/2011, number: 07489189

Gift Aid

Registered with HMRC for Gift Aid

Event History

25/04/2018 - Asset transfer in from THE BIG STAND
17/03/2022 - Asset transfer in from HHLG - HEATH HOSPITAL LOURDES GROUP

Policies in force

Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
Complaints handling
Complaints policy and procedures
Conflicting interests
Financial reserves policy and procedures
Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
Internal risk management policy and procedures
Paying staff
Risk management
Safeguarding policy and procedures
Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
Social media policy and procedures
Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
Volunteer management

Filing Record

7 returns made; AR20: 185 days late,

Recent reorganisation events:

Asset transfer in from HHLG - HEATH HOSPITAL LOURDES GROUP on 17/03/2022

Main office

6 Fore Street
Newquay
CORNWALL
TR7 1LN

Objectives

1. TO ADVANCE IN LIFE, RELIEVE THE NEEDS OF AND HELP YOUNG PEOPLE AND IN PARTICULAR (BUT WITHOUT LIMITATION) THOSE AFFECTED BY DISABILITY, ILLNESS, MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS, SOCIAL EXCLUSION, LOW SELF-ESTEEM OR OTHER DISADVANTAGE OR DIFFICULTY INCLUDING (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) BY; (A) THE PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL AND LEISURE TIME ACTIVITIES PROVIDED IN THE INTERESTS OF SOCIAL WELFARE, WITH A VIEW TO IMPROVING THEIR CONDITIONS OF LIFE; AND(B) THE ADVANCEMENT OF THEIR EDUCATION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR SKILLS, CAPABILITIES AND CONFIDENCE;IN PARTICULAR (BUT WITHOUT LIMITATION) THROUGH THE PROVISION OF INSTRUCTION IN AND FACILITIES FOR SURFING AND OTHER RELATED SPORTS; AND2. TO ADVANCE, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC, SUCH OTHER PURPOSES AS ARE EXCLUSIVELY CHARITABLE UNDER THE LAW OF ENGLAND AND WALES AS THE TRUSTEES MAY FROM TIME TO TIME DETERMINE.

Defined Area of Benefit:

NOT DEFINED

Data Sources

THE WAVE PROJECT

Overview

Mission:

Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

Regulatory & Governance issues to consider:

Financial issues to consider:

UN SDGs

How you can help

Financial Data ?

Income & Spending ?

Sources of Income ?

Financial Ratios

Asset Split ?

What it does

Listed activities

How it operates

Where it operates

Who it helps

Who works here?

Who's supporting them? ?

Donations from Grant Makers ?

Major supporters in last 5 years

Specific Donations

How do they operate?

Surf Therapy Programme

Surf Club

Adaptive Surfing

Beach School

Wave Rangers

Surf Back to School

How effective are they?

Outputs

Outcomes

How do we calculate this?

Who works here?

How is it governed?

Trustees (4)

Current Trustees appointed

Gender Split

Age Range of Trustees: 45-64

Legal constitution

Gift Aid

Event History

Policies in force

Filing Record

Recent reorganisation events:

Main office

Objectives

Defined Area of Benefit:

Data Sources

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