FAQs

Answers to common questions

Find out the answers to some frequently asked questions about joining us in the sea.

We have various different referral streams depending on which programme or session you are interested in. Please visit our contact page for more information and access to all of our referral forms.

If you are an organisation, charity, or school, or if you are interested in organising a group session, please contact us in the first instance to discuss individual needs.

This depends on the type of session or programme we are running.  We can work with children as young as 3 on a one-to-one basis.  For group surfing sessions, we usually limit our participants to age 11 and upwards, but this can be flexible.  Some of our group programmes, such as our homeschool group, include children as young as five.

As a general rule, we work with marginalised individuals who identify with one or more of the following:

  • Physical disability
  • Intellectual disability
  • Neurodiversity
  • Mental health problems
  • Trauma / Anxiety / Bereavement factors

We appreciate that cost is a key element of deciding whether to refer a child or yourself.  However, session and programme costs vary greatly depending on any funding and grants we have secured, and of course on the individual needs of the participant/s.  We run some sessions that are entirely free of charge to the participants.  Please enquire to find out more.

We make the utmost effort to ensure that cost and financial situation does not preclude anyone from participating in our sessions, and will strive to accommodate anyone who cannot afford the session costs.

Yes! We have run parent/carers programmes which are aimed at parents who have a caring role and who could benefit from self-care, physical activity and emotional resilience building.

We also love taking a whole-family approach and can run sessions that incorporate a primary individual referred through our usual criteria, alongside their family members.  For instance a family paddle boarding session with adjusted additional support in place where needed.  

Our surfing and wild swimming sessions are located at Sorted Surf School, Boscombe Honeycombe Beach.  Our flat water sessions are located at Shore Sports (Mudeford Quay), Longham Lakes (Ferndown), and The SUP Store (Christchurch). We are also working with other local venues to expand our offer further to additional river and sea-based locations.

No! We provide all equipment that will be required for all activities we run.  You are welcome to bring your own if you prefer.

Our funding varies according to the programme or session/s we are operating.

Group programmes are usually funded through a combination of grant funding, commissioner funding (school/charity for instance) and sometimes a contribution from the participants.

Our one-off group sessions are funded by the organisation that commissions us, for instance local children’s charities.  Where possible, we will subsidise these sessions with grant funding we have secured.

Individual therapy sessions for children and young people are funded through a combination of self-funding from the family themselves, grant funding, and local charities who support individual children.

We also welcome donations via PayPal which go towards essential business running costs and maintaining our equipment.

Your donations enable us to provide more blue space therapy to more children (and their carers) experiencing disability or mental health struggles.

You can donate to us via PayPal here.

All donations, whatever size, are very gratefully received.

If you are interested in volunteering at one of our sessions, please get in touch through our contact page, or email wildandfreetherapy@outlook.com. You can read more about volunteering here.

A CIC is a Community Interest Company.  CICs are registered with HMRC and Companies House in the same way as regular companies, and must abide by company law.  However, CICs operate to serve their community in a non-profit set-up, meaning that any surplus monies are reinvested into the services to the benefit of the community.  We are able to pay our staff for the direct work they carry out, so long as this has been verified by the donor/grant-giver as a legitimate expense.

We are insured by Surfing England to operate all of our water-based activities.  We have PII to £5M.  

Of course.  Please contact us and we would be happy to share these with you.

We are always revising our FAQs – if there is anything that’s not covered please feel free to get in touch.

The session was thoughtfully planned, very individualised and flexible to needs. Amazing understanding and support from the therapists! They were so patient and gentle in their approach and it made the session possible and enjoyable."
Parent of participant in a surf therapy session through a charity
June 2023
The team took time to understand my child's needs but more importantly his personality and nature. You were able to connect with him so quickly and he was very at ease and relaxed as a result. The staff each bought a different energy which was brilliant as it different moments they were able to fit with my child. Everything was led by my child in a very gentle way without pressure. It was a fun but relaxing experience."
Parent of individual adaptive surf therapy/paddleboard session participant
July 2023