Community Life

The UK's first surfing event dedicated to children with autism is taking place at Bigbury-on-Sea in Devon on Saturday 8 September.

The inaugural 'Breaking the Barrier' surf camp provides a unique opportunity for autistic children and young people to get out onto the waves.

Experience in the USA has shown that surfing can lead to significant health improvements for children with autism, a disorder characterised by severe social isolation and lack of communication.

While surfing is not a cure for autism, families have seen their children become more responsive after taking part in the camps.

Children become more responsive

However they are often excluded from mainstream sport and particularly more adventurous sports such as surfing.

Sponsored by Devon-based charity, Lifeworks and the surfing charity Surf Relief UK, 'Breaking the Barrier' is an opportunity for surfing instructors from across the country to increase their knowledge and experience of coaching autistic children.

"This event is a real first," said Liz Leader from Lifeworks. "Opportunities for autistic children and young people to experience the exciting sport of surfing are rare.

"This is a fantastic chance to provide a day out for children and their carers giving them a new experience."

Specialist instructor Elliot Zuckerman from the Surf2Live surf school, based at Long Island, New York, is flying in with his team to work alongside UK instructors.

At least 100 autistic children and their families from across South West England will be attending the surf camp.

Elliot Zuckerman in action

The children will be taken out by experienced surfers to ride the waves, and depending on weather conditions and how each child reacts, could spend up to 40 minutes in the surf.

Four bespoke 12-foot surfboards, specially designed for teaching children with disabilities how to surf, have been made in the USA ahead of the event. 

Afterwards these unique boards will be made available to participating surfing schools so that children from across the country can have an opportunity to give surfing a go. 

With support from the surfing community, it's hoped the surf camp will become an annual event.

"The aim of this event is to give disadvantaged young people the chance to try the sport we are all so passionate about," said Dave Manley, chairman of Surf Relief UK.

"Surfing provides a unique experience which will stay with these children for life and I hope that this is the start of an annual event that will give many more disabled young people the same opportunity."