What to expect from the course at Saunton (North Devon)

If you live near Saunton and would like to take part, please contact Heather Massey by phone or text (07891432744) or e-mail (spnt.outside@NHS.net)or use the contact us form.

She is happy to answer any questions and explain the sessions and what the study involves.

The course includes an introductory Zoom call with the swim coach. This session provides lots of information about the course. It is also an opportunity to ask questions and virtually meet others on the course. You will be able to have your camera turned off, if you prefer. This Zoom call will be held at the end of May or October, just before the swim courses.

The course will consist of an 8-week course (meeting for 1 hour a week ) during which the instructor (swim coaches name(s) will be providing support for your watery adventures and answering any questions you may have about getting in the water. The focus of the course will be on water safety and confidence in the water.

Each session is about an hour. This will include meeting in the car park, a briefing, some in-water fun, followed by a warm drink and a chat afterwards. The sessions will be in. If the weather means the sea is not safe, we will complete the session at an alternative date.

If during the course, you or a close contact test positive for COVID, we would ask you to contact the swim coach and not attend the session. We will be adopting government guidance to keep you all safe.

To join the course, for safety reasons you must be able to swim 2 lengths of a normal pool .

If on the day of the session you are unsure about swimming, please come down to the beach, You do not have to swim, you may feel all you want to do is dip or be close to the water. You are free to do any of these, and a person will be close to the waters edge to be there for you.

The swim coaches will follow your lead and support you. The swim coaches are all have mental health awareness training and are there to make the experience enjoyable.

At the start, we will have a phone or Zoom call with you to gain your consent to participate in the study and complete a health form. We will check that you meet the inclusion criteria for the study. This includes having symptoms of mild to moderate depression. Following the call we will ask you to answer some surveys online, this will include topics about your mental health, state of mindfulness and self-compassion and how you feel about nature.

The swim courses will start soon or in May 2023. Once you have signed up to participate, you will be randomly allocated to a group, so you will have a 50% chance of being in the first group. If you are in the May 2023 start group we will continue to keep in touch with you during the summer and through in to next year.

We will also ask you to complete the surveys at the end of October and then again in November/December. We will also ask for your opinions on the course using a short survey and invite you to join a virtual focus group.

Here is a picture of the team (on the left) . The team are led by Mike (on the right).

The meeting and lo9cation will be added here soon

Click for a map of the location

This course is free to you as funding for the course has been provided. You can apply for your traveling expenses to be reimbursed.

You should bring with you:

A swimming costume, trunks or shorts

Towel

Suntan cream

Warm clothes that are easy to put on (including a warm hat and gloves) for putting on afterward

Old trainers/flips flops

If you have a wetsuit, goggles and swimming hat and want to use them, please feel free to bring them.

The swim coaches will be able to provide details of local groups which you can join to continue enjoying the water, or can help you set up your own group with other members of the course.