8 Sept 2026
New bodyboards build confidence in the waves
Eight new bodyboards made from recovered ocean plastic will help members of inclusive surf club Aloha Kākou Shaka take their first steps towards surfing.
The boards, donated by Keep Britain Tidy’s Ocean Recovery Project, were delivered to club founder Aiden Coxhead on Watergate Bay by the project’s manager, Neil Hambrow.
Aiden, who is autistic, has a learning disability and lives with cystic fibrosis, created Aloha Kākou Shaka after becoming frustrated by the lack of surfing clubs and competitions for people like him.
Having already defied expectations by becoming the world’s first beach lifeguard and ISA surf coach with his level of support needs, he is now building what is believed to be another first: a neurodivergent surfing community, including those with a learning disability, where everyone feels seen, supported, and free to be themselves.
Aiden explains: “Lots of people who come to our sessions have never even been in the sea before. It can seem scary at first, so not everybody wants to jump straight onto a surfboard — and there’s no pressure.
“Bodyboarding is a fun way for people to get used to the waves and build their confidence before trying surfing, means these boards will get lots of use. We love Watergate Bay, it’s beautiful and we do beach cleans to help keep it that way. So I really like that these bodyboards are made from recovered ocean plastic — and that they’re strong, cause our boards get bashed around a lot!”
Neil Hambrow, Ocean Recovery Project Manager at Keep Britain Tidy, said: “It was a great experience meeting Aiden at Watergate Bay, handing over the boards, and seeing the club put them to immediate use.
“Every year, the Ocean Recovery Project collects and recycles hundreds of cheap, broken polystyrene bodyboards. These new boards we’ve donated are different: they’re polystyrene-free, which matters because they are built to last and they don’t spill plastic into our oceans. The plastic we’ve used in its place is recovered from trawl nets, it’s far more flexible and durable.
“I hope these boards will help many of the people Aiden and his club support progress from their first experiences in the waves to popping up on a surfboard.”
Aloha Kākou Shaka provides affordable, inclusive surfing sessions during the summer for neurodivergent people, including those with a learning disability, autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, Tourette’s and other support needs. Families, carers and support workers are also welcome.
The club operates on a not-for-profit basis and relies on grant funding and generous donations like this one to provide people with a supported route into surfing.
We are currently fundraising for a seated adaptive surfboard, allowing neurodivergent people or those with a learning disability, who also have significant physical disabilities and complex mobility needs to experience the joy and freedom of surfing alongside everyone else. This specialist equipment will open the ocean to people who may never have believed surfing was possible. This is an expensive piece of kit, so if you can support us in any way, we'd greatly appreciate it.