Chill South Devon, an exceptional local charity that received £2,500 from funds raised at Salcombe Crabfest 2023, takes centre stage in our exclusive Q&A blog. Explore their transformative initiatives as we unveil their dedication to providing accessible cold-water therapy for both physical and mental health challenges within the local community. 

Can you tell our readers a bit about Chill South Devon and the work you do?

“Chill South Devon CIC is a non-profit organisation with a vision to make cold-water immersion and ‘Chill’ cold-water therapy accessible to people living with (and often suffering from) a range of everyday physical and mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and back pain. 

 We also extend our support to those affected by long-term chronic health conditions, such as individuals living with long Covid and those facing a cancer diagnosis.”

£2,500 was raised at this year’s Salcombe Crabfest for Chill South Devon. How will the donation be used to support your fantastic work and initiatives?

“Thanks to the support from the Rotary Club of Salcombe, and all those involved in Crabfest, we’re hosting transformative cold-water swim sessions. This generous donation enables participants to join 8-week local cold-water courses at Bigbury-on-Sea, which started with the Chill Winter Challenge. This began on 17th November 2023 and runs through to January 2024.

The courses offer a safe and exciting opportunity to boost an individual’s physical and mental health in a group setting. We’re proud to offer a welcoming Chill community to those willing to brave the elements and encourage people to give it a try. Thank you again to all those that visited, sponsored, and organised Crabfest, for making more courses possible!”

How has the start of your Chill Winter Challenge been so far?

“We have had a fantastic start to the Chill Winter Challenge. We are weeks in and the enthusiasm from the participants is absolutely amazing. We have 19 participants and I am always in awe of their willingness to embrace these cold-water challenges. As the temperatures really start to fall, it is the group dynamic that is developing that will help them through the chillier months.”

What role does community support, such as that from events like Crabfest, play in the success of Chill South Devon’s projects?

“Your charitable donations and support gives us the opportunity to expand our offering to reach more people with these life-changing courses. Through your help and support we can set up new Chill Therapy groups, train Chill Therapy coaches, and offer our transformative courses to a greater number of people of various ages, backgrounds, and health conditions. To achieve this, we need community support.”

Can you share some of the key health benefits associated with cold-water swimming and immersion?

“Immersion in cold water, when done safely, gradually reduces stress levels and increases resilience in everyday life and generates a greater sense of health and wellbeing. 

At Chill, we combine this with the well-documented benefits of being outdoors and connecting with nature, and of belonging to a well-facilitated support group. We find that the health and wellbeing benefits are therefore amplified.”

How is a session run in terms of the number of people who can join, how long sessions and courses run for, and how you encourage people to brave the chill?

“Chill cold-water therapy courses are spread out over 8 weeks. There are between 16 to 20 participants on each course. There is always at least one cold-water swim coach and one qualified beach lifeguard (per 8 – 10 people) both trained in beach and water safety, first aid, and in aiding persons in and out of the water.”

Conducting these cold-water courses and sessions must be incredibly rewarding. What is your favourite aspect of running these?

“Our Chill courses focus on three main elements, Reorientation, transformation, and connection. The experience of swimming in cold water is a complex interaction between body, mind, and our physical and social environments. The reorienting and transformative benefits of swimming in cold water derive from this interaction, and this complex interaction connects us on a deeply profound level to nature and the environment, to others and ourselves.  

I love witnessing the ever changing and different transformations that happen as our cold-water enthusiasts navigate their journey through these sessions.”  

Are there any success stories or testimonials from the participants that highlight the positive impact of Chill South Devon’s programs?

A previous participant of Chill South Devon said… “I am so proud of myself for achieving something I thought I would never do. It has been a challenge to get in the water some weeks, but the group’s so friendly and encouraging that we have all taken the plunge. After a swim I feel invigorated, energised and happy. It’s also given me the confidence to try new things.

This course has helped to provide me with more focus, and when I am in the water, I am in the moment and it provides a time to reset and reflect. Thank you Chill for being so full of warmth.

It gave me some truly selfish me-time. A very powerful stress and anxiety reliever even if only for an hour. Having to focus on the sea, weather and place, gives a few moments of peace and tranquillity. This course gave me a reason to leave home and do something I enjoy in a beautiful location.” 

What would you say to encourage readers that like the thought of joining but are nervous to sign up?

“Speak to us, or come visit us on the beach. Perhaps even do a taster session. It is also probably best to get started in the warmer months, and then to continue. Give it a go, you will be surprised what you are capable of achieving.”

To find out about the other charities we supported at Salcombe Crabfest 2023, read our Q&A blogs with Devon Air Ambulance and Devon Mind.