Surfability - DIY SOS
Upon the shore of Caswell Bay, Swansea, sits the iconic surf centre of the charitable organisation Surfability UK, built in collaboration with BBC’s DIY SOS programme. On the Children In Need special episode, viewers witnessed a team of volunteers complete the construction of this permanent facility for young surf students. Polyflor happily donated its Quattro PUR safety flooring to this worthy cause.
Location: Swansea, UK
Products Used: Polysafe Quattro PUR
Sector: Leisure & Hospitality
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Polyflor joined forces with BBC Children in Need on a special episode of DIY SOS: The Big Build in 2020.
The popular programme, presented by Nick Knowles, documented the transformation of Swansea Surf Centre at Caswell Bay. The collaborative project combined familiar faces from the programme with Surfability UK - a unique community interest initiative – and their enthusiastic team of volunteers.
Surfability UK was the country’s first fully-inclusive surf school, providing lessons for young people with disabilities and learning difficulties. The organisation, founded by Ben Clifford in 2013, was determined to show that surfing had no limitations.
Today, alongside his dedicated team, they assist over 500 people a year in fulfilling their dreams upon the ocean waves, establishing themselves as world leaders in adaptive surfing whilst working alongside the International Surfing Association to develop sporting standards. Despite such accolades, its staff and students had been regrettably operating from severely inadequate accommodation since its launch and required funding to make improvements.
Before assistance from BBC Children in Need, their central base was a dilapidated former bus shelter which lacked electricity, had no running water and was prone to floods. The collaborative hard work of the DIY SOS team changed this, creating a new state-of-the-art, eco-friendly surf centre equipped to meet the needs of those it supports. Its building design showcases a distinctive surfboard shape with a grassed roof, whilst attractive shades of blue, grey and driftwood blend perfectly into the idyllic surrounding landscape.
As well as its incredible volunteers, the transformation required helpful donations of construction materials from businesses. DIY SOS turned to Polyflor to provide the perfect flooring, who gladly donated Polysafe Quattro PUR to this worthy cause.
Polysafe Quattro PUR safety flooring provides sustainable slip resistance. It is designed specifically for areas regularly exposed to water and subsequently walked upon barefoot. The design team opted for the range’s Cool Pebble shade. Its neutral tone complemented the aesthetic of the building, in addition to offering low maintenance benefits.
Polyflor were thrilled to have supported this inspirational project which was, to the credit of all involved, completed in less than one month.
We are so grateful to those who have donated their time and materials. The build has taken the operation [of Surfability UK] to the next level, benefiting so many disabled people in Wales and across the UK.
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