Key facts
Area: South West
Grant recipient: Surf Action CIC
Project: Surf Action
Programme: People's Millions
Date of award: November 2010
Amount awarded: £49,629
Surf Action is a project which uses the beach environment to help the well-being of veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and their families. An inspirational group of qualified surf instructors with backgrounds in teaching, former Royal Marines, British Army and sports coaching, are using their skills and experiences to help combat veterans and their families deal with the ongoing problems of PTSD and physical injury. They recognise the benefits of surfing and provide sessions that compliment their ongoing therapy and help boost their confidence and self esteem.
PTSD is a type of anxiety disorder that occurs after you've seen or experienced a traumatic event involving the threat of injury or death. With an award of £49,629 from People’s Millions 2010, Surf Action has been able to increase the programmes they run, to further focus on improving the condition of those with PTSD. But it’s not only the veterans that benefit from this project, the surfing sessions are open to their families too, and this is hugely beneficial to all concerned as it enables them to spend valuable time together –sharing an experience, putting smiles on faces and achieving something they can be proud of together.
Major Trevor Luttrel served in the British Army. A few years after he retired, Trevor found himself suffering from flashbacks and having vivid dreams about military situations he’d been in and realised that he was suffering from PTSD - he has used various therapies to help him manage the flashbacks he still suffers, but now, through a mental health clinic he attend, he comes to Surf Action.
“On a personal basis I have found that learning to surf calms me down. The sheer physical activity of just learning to surf, plus the very close camaraderie built up with other participants is fantastic and really boosts your moral. I have seen the tremendous and often rapid improvements in other PTSD sufferers participating in Surf Action activities, as well as in personnel with physical problems, such as amputees.”