9 July 2026

Strengthening the Heart of Surf Therapy: 43 Coaches Come Together for Mid-Year Training

Two weeks of learning, reflection and connection equipped coaches across our five beach hubs with refreshed skills, renewed energy and practical tools to support more young people through Surf Therapy.

Last month, 43 Waves for Change coaches from our five beach hubs came together at the Lavender Hill Sports Facility in Cape Town for an intensive mid-year ‘refresher’ training, designed to strengthen the quality and consistency of our Surf Therapy programme.

The training programme revisited our core Grounding Routine Curriculum, with practical sessions on Problem Solving, My Goals, and My Commitments, alongside the 11 Behaviour Expectations (BEs) that guide every Surf Therapy session. Coaches also participated in specialised workshops on topics such as Child Protection, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) awareness, a Gender and Inclusion Toolkit workshop with Pride Shelter, The training concluded with a team lunch, celebrating the commitment and dedication of every coach.

Our Surf Therapy programme is only as strong as the people who deliver it. Every new skill, every shared lesson, and every conversation during training strengthens the safe, supportive spaces our coaches create for young people facing adversity.

By investing in ongoing learning, coaches deepen their understanding of safeguarding, inclusion, youth development and programme quality, building confidence in delivering Surf Therapy with consistency and care. The training also reinforced the importance of teamwork across our beach hubs, ensuring coaches continue to learn from one another and deliver evidence-informed programmes that help adolescents build resilience, regulate emotions and develop the confidence to navigate life’s challenges both in and out of the water.

Investing in our coaches is investing in every young person they serve and a vital part of Waves for Change’s mission to ensure quality mental health support through Surf Therapy reaches those who need it most.

A Moment That Captured the Week

While the training was packed with learning, some of the most meaningful moments happened between sessions during team-building activities, shared reflections and time together on the beach. Coaches encouraged one another, exchanged ideas from their different beach hubs and celebrated the impact they make every day in their communities.

Watching the Surf Therapy Take 5 Routine come to life on the beach served as a powerful reminder that behind every Surf Therapy session is a coach equipped not only with practical tools, but with compassion, patience and the commitment to help every young person feel seen, safe and supported.