WORLD CLASS SURF THERAPY FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES COMES TO SCOTLAND
– Surfwell Runs Course for RNLI at Lost Shore in Edinburgh –
Surfwell Bluelight CIC will be working with Lost Shore in Edinburgh to bring its evidence-based surf therapy inland to a Scottish audience, to support frontline emergency services in the region. The innovative programme, specifically for the Blue Light community, has been run at coastal locations in Devon, Cornwall and Dorset and in partnership with organisations in the USA since 2018, and more recently at The Wave in Bristol to help bring the programme inland.
Following successful feasibility trials, and completion of risk assessments to ensure the venue meets the needs of the Surfwell programme, Lost Shore is proud to host colleagues from the RNLI who will be the first organisation to take part in the single day programme to help with mental health and wellbeing at this fantastic new venue at a session on Wednesday 3rd June 2026.
The Surfwell programme is life -changing – and in some cases has been life saving.
Surfwell was the first programme of it’s kind in the world to be specifically designed to support first responders and is run by a team who are all current or previous members of the emergency services themselves and have ‘lived experience’ in common with programme participants. Its trauma-informed approach has been specifically developed to achieve extraordinary results in just one day.
James Mallows SURFWELL BLUE LIGHT CIC CEO
“We developed our programme in 2018 in response to the national mental health crisis within UK emergency services and to date we have helped over 2000 participants from the Emergency Services, who have been struggling with their mental health. Many of the people we work with are particularly struggling with severe anxiety, burnout, stress and PTSD from incidents that they have experienced in the line of duty or from the unique challenges that come with working in the blue light sector.
“The neurological changes that occur within the brain when you overcome the challenge of surfing in a cold-water setting, alongside a structured support system delivered by blue light peers, is incredibly powerful. We see time and time again, the immediate and importantly, the long-lasting impact of our programme. It really is life changing.
To be able to bring this programme to Scotland and make it easier for more members of the emergency services from across the UK to access the programme has always been part of our dream”
We have been supporting colleagues from the RNLI since 2022 and are really pleased to be delivering our first session at Lost Shore to their staff on Wednesday 3rd June 2026. This is the start of an exciting collaboration to support first responder and blue light colleagues in Scotland.
Dr Jamie Marshall Social and Health Innovation lead, Lost Shore.
“Through our work exploring the blue health benefits of surfing and surf therapy, we’ve seen first-hand the positive impact surfing can have on people’s confidence, resilience and overall wellbeing. Being RNLI crew myself, I’ve seen the challenges frontline colleagues face up close, which makes this partnership particularly meaningful. That’s why we’re incredibly proud to partner with Surfwell to bring this important programme to Scotland for the first time and support frontline emergency service workers through a unique, evidence-based experience that can make a real difference.
At Lost Shore, we believe surfing should be accessible and beneficial to everyone, and we’re delighted to welcome RNLI colleagues to the resort as part of this collaboration. We look forward to building on the partnership to support even more members of the blue light community in the future.”
Adam Dixon RNLI Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead
“The RNLI exists to save lives at sea, and the charity’s lifesavers give a great deal of time and commitment to saving the lives of others. While their rescue work is often rewarding, the very nature of it can mean exposure to challenging and traumatic circumstances.
The welfare of our lifesavers is our priority, and we’re pleased to be working with Surfwell to offer surf therapy to those who need it, led by fellow emergency service personnel who can approach each situation with empathy and shared understanding. The addition of the Lost Shore venue in Scotland is now providing a more accessible option for our lifesavers in Scotland and the north of England.”
