Big Build surfing facility gets underway in Swansea

The crew of the BBC DIY SOS and dozens of local volunteers have been welcomed to Swansea for the official start of their latest Children in Need Big Build, according to In Your Area.

Swansea Council leader, Rob Stewart, and Cllr Robert Francis Davies formally welcomed Nick Knowles and the rest of the production team to the latest development site at Caswell Bay where a state-of-the-art adaptive surfing facility is being created for people with disabilities.

The new building will be built with skill and speed in just nine days, replacing an ageing storage unit currently used by charity Surfability UK, who have operated an adaptive surf school from the unit for the last seven years.

Stewart says: “We’re very pleased to be able to support the DIY SOS team with their plans to create a brand-new surfing facility for people with disabilities. We’ve already carried out lots of improvements at our beaches to make them more accessible, including the creation of new sections of coastal paths between beaches along our coastline.

“This new facility will further enhance what we offer to residents and visitors to our wonderful coastline and will make a huge difference for those that need extra support to go surfing.”

“Surfability UK is becoming a world renowned in terms of adaptive surfing,” says Nick Knowles. “They are looking after around 500 people who get support to go surfing. The new facility will be something that Swansea and the rest of Wales can be extremely proud of.”

Ben Clifford, who runs the adaptive surfing facility in Caswell Bay, adds: “Adaptive surfing provides the opportunity for people with mobility problems, wheelchair users, with the chance to experience surfing and have a lot of fun. I’m so excited about the plans for the new facility. As far as I know, this will be the first custom-built adaptive surf centre in the UK.”

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