NORTH Wales community projects are surfing to success thanks a boost thanks to support from the Big Lottery Fund (BIG).
Currently celebrating 15 years of bringing improvements to communities across Wales, BIG has awarded £600 million to 22,000 projects across the country.
One area which has benefited is the Welsh language, with more than £2 million given to support projects like Menter Iaith.
Guto Roberts from Y Felinheli, who volunteers at the surf club in Conwy and works at conservation volunteering charity BTCV in the town, has helped BIG's grant funding be put to good use.
He explained: “Surfing has been a hobby of mine for over seven years, as it’s a great way of keeping fit and to make the most of the beautiful views we have on our doorstep.
“As a seasoned volunteer with Menter Iaith Conwy, I’m always interested in taking on a new challenge, so when the opportunity of training as a surf coach and combining it with volunteering as a surf lifeguard came up thanks to the grant funding, I jumped at the chance."
As a first language speaker, Guto understood how some children’s confidence in learning a new hobby may be more daunting when done through a language which may not be their first or natural choice.
“Surfing is traditionally thought of as an English speaking sport due to associations with surfing in the south west coast of England such as Newquay and can sometimes put some children and young people off taking the sport up as a hobby," he said. “A lot of kids living in the area are around ten years old when they first start becoming interested in surfing, and at that age, they struggle with their English as they often speak Welsh in the home. For even those who are older, and whose first language is Welsh, it can often be off-putting having to master a new sport and complicated skills and techniques, whilst also doing so in a language they may not feel comfortable speaking.”
According to Guto there is a large demand for learning to surf, but a lack of Welsh speaking tutors in the area as professionals are attracted to English resorts.
But Menter Iaith has helped address the problem and encourage Welsh speakers of all ages to get active.
He added: “It’s thanks to the lottery funding that this sport has now been opened up to more people. The success of this project has carved the way for others to be able to train, as well as highlight the need for more Welsh speaking outdoors instructors.
“The surf club now sees over 50 surfing enthusiasts coming together from across north Wales to meet fortnightly at the club to learn skills and make new friends. As well as the training, the funding has also helped purchase wetsuits and surf boards for the club, ensuring that we have the equipment to make the club a real success.
“Following my training, I have been able to integrate my passion for surfing with my everyday work, and at BTCV we now offer young people aged between 16 and 24 surf lessons for free as a reward for a morning’s worth of conservation volunteer work. We find it works really well, and is another way of encouraging more young people in Conwy to get in to the sport and to volunteer.”
For further information on how you can apply for funding, visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk