CORNWALL’s Wave Project will be the hosts for the International Surf Therapy Organisation this summer as they hold their first ever European conference.

Surf therapy charities and NGOs from across the world will gather at Watergate Bay in Cornwall for the four-day annual conference between July 5-8.

The conference will include a day of free surfing lessons for people with disabilities, followed by three days of talks, training and seminars.

Bringing together pro surfers, scientists, researchers, non-profit organisations, policymakers and volunteers all working in the field of surf therapy, discussions will focus on the theme of Building Trust.

ISTO was founded in 2017 in Cape Town, South Africa, and today the organisation has over 75 members on six continents, all using surfing as a form of therapy to treat conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD and trauma.

It will be the first time the organisation has met in Europe, with previous conferences held in California and South Africa.

Joe Taylor, founder of The Wave Project and one of the founding members of ISTO, said: “It is incredible how surf therapy has grown from an intuitive idea to a globally-recognised form of therapy in such a short time.

“When we formed ISTO in South Africa in 2017, we had no idea the concept would take off around the world in the way it has.

“It is a huge honour for us at The Wave Project to be hosting the global surf therapy community here in Cornwall this summer to discuss how surfing can be extended as a form of therapy to more people around the world.”

Initially funded by the NHS as a pilot project in 2010, The Wave Project aims to improve the wellbeing and confidence of young people who face mental health issues or social exclusion – offering a dedicated six-week course of one-to-one surfing support.

“This is followed up by the opportunity to join a social club to progress in their surfing, with the chance to also train to become volunteer helpers and mentors.”

Based in Cornwall, the charity has now expanded across the South West of England and to North Yorkshire, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and London. With 40 staff and over 1,500 trained volunteer surf mentors, 5,000 young people have accessed Wave Project surf therapy courses to date.

Kris Primacio, executive director of ISTO, said: “We are thrilled to have our first ISTO Conference in the UK hosted by The Wave Project.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity to advance our collective efforts and explore new ways of promoting surf therapy as an alternative form of treatment.”