The Wave Project has launched an urgent appeal to support its work across Devon dealing with the ongoing children’s mental health crisis.

The project, founded in 2010, uses surf therapy programmes to help children and young adults improve their mental health.

Surf therapy is an evidence-based intervention, recognised by the NHS, local authorities, and psychiatric services as an effective tool for improving the well-being of children and young people.

With one in six children currently struggling to cope, the support the project provides is needed more than ever.

Each year the project aims to support 130 children and young people who are struggling for a variety of reasons, including neglect, bullying, and bereavement.

When the six-week programme finishes, the children and young people who take part in it show significant improvements in their self-confidence, resilience, self-esteem, and ability to build trust with other children and adults.

The project is currently wrapping up the delivery of its summer programme; however, the team are anxiously looking ahead to their autumn sessions as they desperately need to raise the funds required to continue their work in Devon.

They need to raise £5,000 this summer to enable them to continue dealing with the children’s mental health crisis.