Blue Lighthouse Surf CIC

11/05/2026

A nice little write up on what we're doing and why 📰

10/04/2026

How surf therapy creates real change for frontline workers 👇

Every programme we run follows a clear path - from the resources we bring together, through the sessions we deliver, to the outcomes our participants experience.

Our logic model maps that journey: trained delivery partners and structured programmes leading to measurable improvements in stress, mental clarity, confidence, and coping strategies. Longer term, we're working to reduce isolation, prevent burnout, and support crisis prevention across Scotland's public services.
This isn't guesswork - our pilot showed an 18.4% improvement in participant wellbeing scores.

Healthier frontline workers means healthier communities. A ripple that grows into a wave!

🌊 Our 2026 programme dates are now open for sign-ups. If you're a frontline worker in Scotland, this is for you.

📍 Find out more: https://bluelighthouse.org.uk/
📝 Book your place: https://book.swellbase.io/bluelighthouse

06/04/2026

🌊 Our 2026 programme dates are live!

We're excited to announce five funded surf sessions for public sector and frontline workers in Scotland this year:

📅 23rd April
📅 7th May
📅 11th June
📅 27th August
📅 17th September

📍 Cullen Beach, Moray Firth

Our sessions are completely free, open to current and former public sector workers, and no surfing experience is needed. All equipment and wetsuits are provided - just bring a towel and your sense of adventure.

We recommend signing up for 2 sessions to get the most from the programme, but one is absolutely fine too.

Sign up now 👉 https://bluelighthouse.org.uk or https://book.swellbase.io/bluelighthouse

A huge thank you to our funders and supporters who make this possible: Moray Health & Wellbeing Fund, William Grant Foundation, Blue Coast, Dryrobe, and Mystic.

Find out more about who we are and why we do it at bluelighthouse.org.uk
💙🏄

21/11/2025

Work in the public sector and interested in wellbeing? We're looking for someone to join our board and help shape the direction of Blue Lighthouse after our pilot!

ℹ️ Non-Executive Director - Blue Lighthouse Surf CIC
Voluntary role | Quarterly meetings | Scotland-based

🏄 About Us
Blue Lighthouse supports Scotland's frontline public service workers through surf therapy programmes. Our 2025 pilot delivered an 18.4% improvement in mental wellbeing for NHS staff, teachers, police officers, paramedics, social workers, and armed forces personnel.

📝 The Role
We're looking for a Non-Executive Director to join our board and help us grow. This is a voluntary position involving quarterly Zoom meetings to provide strategic input and governance oversight.

👤 You'll Have:
- A connection to Scotland's public sector through current or prior work experience
- Commitment to supporting frontline worker wellbeing

🎯 What You'll Do:
- Attend quarterly board meetings (via Zoom)
- Optionally: support grant applications or facilitate introductions to public sector decision-makers

This is a flexible, low-commitment way to make real impact on an issue that matters - supporting those who serve our communities.

✉️ Interested? Send an email to [email protected] with a brief note explaining your relevant experience and connection to our purpose.

17/11/2025

We're proud to share the results from our 2025 pilot programme 🌊

From April to October, we delivered 10 surf therapy sessions to a total of 31 frontline workers across the North East of Scotland - NHS staff, teachers, police officers, social workers, and emergency responders who give so much to our communities.

The results speak for themselves:
📊 18.4% improvement in overall mental wellbeing
🧘‍♀️ 33.8% improvement in feeling relaxed
💪 Participants reporting they're applying coping techniques at work and home

"This has been so healing – thank you for running this wonderful program."
"I have filled my own cup up while surfing, so I feel more patient and relaxed with my young children."

Our frontline workers deserve support that works. Cold water, blue spaces, mindfulness, peer connection, and overcoming challenges together - that's what Blue Lighthouse delivers.

Read the full evaluation report here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hfAh1zqBTDIc9SaMWAlNczEe1-RewZMa/view?usp=sharing

With thanks again to:
- Our many Crowdfunder supporters who supported our pilot campaign
- Moray Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund
- Dryrobe for donating some kit to help us with fundraising and keeping participants warm
- Mystic for providing some rashvests for the project
- International Surf Therapy Organization for providing guidance on evaluation
- Op Surfwell / University of Exeter for the inspiring model & supporting research
- The various people who provided ears and eyes to help design and evaluate the programme. Thank you 🤙

20/05/2025

Another Blue Lighthouse surf session run a couple weeks ago in beautiful conditions at Cullen Beach ☀️

A mix of public services have attended our sessions so far, and it's been great to receive some positive feedback and see the impact coming through in our evaluations as well.

We only have a couple spaces left for this season's sessions, however if you're keen to come along please fill in our form with the dates that work for you as we would like to make sure all the session places are used if we get any cancellations.

For all public sector workers - emergency services, NHS, teachers, social work, military etc. All welcome to join free of charge 🤙

Here's the link: https://forms.gle/Wsj6qXJ3rZ1v1XxX8

02/05/2025

It was brilliant to have run the first 2 Blue Lighthouse surf sessions this month with these 3 ladies at Cullen Beach 🏄‍♀️

Here are a couple comments from the participants in the post programme survey:

"Less stressed - focus taken away from life problems"
"My head is clear - no time to think about other things!"
"Encouraged me to get outside more and explore other Blue Space options"
"Scared, exhilarated, sense of wellbeing afterwards"
"Love being in/on/near the sea, feel grounded"

We're stoked to have run the first sessions and looking forward to the next ones.

We have seen significant demand for these sessions and many of the dates are currently full, however if you or someone you know is interested in attending fully funded, please fill in any dates that suit and we will contact you if space opens up due to cancellations. We will do our best to offer spaces to anyone that wants to join.

Here's the link: https://forms.gle/PY7MuJrz8UnS1vM59 🤙

28/03/2025

Our first fully funded surf sessions for public sector workers begin shortly with spaces filling up quickly!

Join us completely free of charge and have fun learning to surf in a challenging but safe environment, enjoying nature alongside like-minded colleagues.

🏄 No surfing experience is required to participate in our program
🔥 All equipment and cosy wetsuits are provided
🏄‍♀️ Each program includes 2 sessions
💙 Our program is free of charge to all participants thanks to our generous partners and funders

📍 Our pilot program will be initially available with our delivery partner in Cullen on the Moray Firth, with the goal to offer future programs in other locations around North East Scotland and with further partners nationally.

🧑‍⚕️ The program is open to all current and former emergency services employees, NHS workers, military veterans, social workers, teachers and other public sector workers.

📅 Our pilot sessions will take place on Thursday afternoons starting in April. You can select which 2 dates work best for you around shifts / commitments.

We have 8 dates available in our pilot programme from April-October, available completely free of charge for public sector and frontline workers. If you'd like to get involved or know someone who would benefit, just fill out our brief signup form and we'll be in touch.

https://forms.gle/1HFiZKbH6UcekaJUA

Note: some of the dates are already confirmed as full. We have noted on the form where this is the case. Please select all your preferred dates and our team will allocate you a space accordingly.

03/03/2025

Thanks to everyone who donated to our crowdfunder and also to the tsiMORAY Moray Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund, we are delighted to be able to offer 40 FULLY FUNDED programme places (2 surf sessions) to public sector workers this year.

Who is this for?
🔹 Anyone working in public sector / frontline jobs in Scotland, including but not limited to emergency services workers, NHS, teachers, social workers, and military
🔸 This is an initiative to encourage peer support and promote wellbeing through active interaction with the ocean environment through the sport of surfing. Everyone is welcome, this is not a clinical intervention by any means. If you want to do something active / new and feel good, it's for you!

What's involved?
🏄‍♂️ You'll sign up for 2 surf sessions on Cullen Beach, Moray where you will receive a lesson from our qualified instructors / partners, with all equipment included (warm wetsuits!)
🏄‍♀️ No experience is required - your time in the sea will be tailored to your experience, confidence, and personal level of fitness
📝 We'll ask you to fill out anonymous questionnaires pre and post your 2 sessions, so we can measure the impact of these sessions

When?
📅 Thursday afternoons starting in April. You can select which 2 dates work best for you around shifts / commitments

Where?
📍 All sessions with be delivered at Cullen Beach, Moray

✉️ Please share this with your colleagues or anyone else you know working in the public sector who would benefit from this.

🙋 If you have any questions, please feel free to message us, leave a comment, or email us at [email protected]

If you're interested in joining us, please fill out the form linked below with the dates that work for you and we will confirm as soon as possible.

👉

We deliver intentional surf sessions where the goal expands from not only learning surf skills but to also discovering new tools for personal self-care away from the demands of work. You'll have fun learning to surf in a challenging but safe environment and enjoy nature alongside like-minded colleag...

26/11/2024

We hit our Crowdfunder target! 🎉

On 31st October our crowdfunder came to an end, raising £1140 for 32 generous pledgers (coming in at £20 over target). We are fully funded for our pilot programme!

This in addition to our other fundraising efforts and the generous support of dryrobe supplying us with some warm gear for participants will allow us to run a 2 session pilot programme for 16 participants in 2025.

A huge thanks to everyone who has believed in, shown enthusiasm for, and donated to this project, helping bring it to life. We can't wait to run the first sessions next year!

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We have used a random number generator to generate the winner for our Dryrobe raffle. Congratulations Jennifer McLoughlin! You have been sent an email with instructions on how to redeem 🎁