Open Minds Community
As a social impact organisation, an important part of our ethos is to provide visibility and opportunities for those less visible in blue spaces for all kinds of reasons. We hope people who have experienced our activities to connect with each other. We want everyone to have the chance to experience these wonderful wild, blue spaces to improve their mental and physical wellbeing. The profit we make from our commercial ventures is reinvested into community projects. Here are some of the initiatives we have launched together with the odd blog and film we produce :)
Water Stories - Reflection
Water stories - Reflection. Mother and daughter share their swim journey
Impact Report 2023
Open Minds Active Impact Report 2023. Read about our Social Value and how our work continues to support people with their mental health and wellbeing
Water Stories - Recovery
Mehbooba shares her journey into cold water swimming and how its helped her manage her fibromyalgia and mental health
Water Stories - Reclaim
In this short film Lildonia shares her learn to swim story, discussing the barriers to swimming for people of colour, the perceived stereotypes and reclaiming the narrative around her own personal journey and the joy of learning a new skill and accessing blue spaces.
Water Stories - Reconnect
Swimming can provide a welcoming community and lifeline for people who are socially isolated. In our second film Wafa talks about the importance of swimming for her own wellbeing and that of the women who we teach at Open Minds Active
Water Stories - Resilience
Water Story - Resilience. A short film featuring double leg amputee swimmer Simon Harmer. Simon shares his story about how wild swimming has helped in his recovery and finding a welcoming, inclusive community.
Building relationships and trust are key to improving diversity within swimming.
Building relationships and trust are key to improving diversity within swimming
Wild swimming as a tool to build resilience
A conversation with veteran Simon Harmer about how he uses wild swimming to build resilience and aid recovery
Water for the Soul
A beautiful piece about cold water swimming, recently published in Soul Hub written by one of our yoga teachers, Sarah Fyson.
Outdoor sports for all?
Breaking barriers in outdoor sports. How a group of women took up Golf during a pandemic.
Wild swimming in the time of Covid
Blue therapy and access to nature is needed now more than ever
