SUP club’s activities day will raise cash for special school

Glamorgan Star news 02/04/2023

3 minutes read

A STANDUP paddleboarding (SUP) enthusiast from Barry is preparing to make a Bristol Channel crossing from Weston-super-Mare to Jackson’s Bay as part of a fundraiser to pay for new outdoor play equipment at Ysgol y Deri Special School in Penarth.

Former Wales SUP international Kerry Baker, who works with primary-aged children at the school, hopes to make the 10-mile crossing at some point in late March or early April, with the exact date to be determined by the weather and the availability of a safety boat to accompany her.

The challenge is part of the wider ‘Bristol Channel Bound’ fundraiser for Ysgol y Deri that culminates with an activities day at Island SUP on Sunday, 16th April.

The day begins at 11am, when members of the public can visit Nell’s Point Coastwatch to learn more about their work.

During the morning, there will also be an opportunity to take part in a coastal clean-up organised by Planet Patrol, and Beach Academy Wales will hold family beach school sessions.

At 12:30pm, there will be a picnic with a question and answer session about all aspects of SUP, and at 2pm the RNLI will be giving a talk about the importance of water safety.

From 3pm, as the tide comes in, there will be a SUP beginner session with space for around 10 people, and there will be a further session for the more experienced who want to develop their skills.

The sessions cost £35 with hire kit (board, paddle, wetsuit and PFD) or £25 without, and all money raised will go to Ysgol y Deri.

Kerry bought her first paddleboard shortly before she moved to the area in 2010: “I’m from Newquay in Cornwall and I knew I’d be moving to South Wales in the near future – I thought that the surf would be rubbish around here compared to back home, but I was completely wrong about that and I loved it!

“However, thinking that the surf would be poor here and that the waters would be calm, I was tempted by SUP. I was given a £1,000 bonus from my job at the time, and I made a spontaneous decision to buy a minty green SUP board,” she said.

Kerry quickly developed a passion for SUP, and in 2013 she paddled from Mumbles to Penarth for charity.

A friend persuaded her to take part in SUP races, and in 2015 she entered a competition in Bournemouth featuring the best racers from around the UK, where, despite her lack of experience, she finished third.

Two years later, Kerry represented Wales at the ISA SUP Paddleboard World Championships in Denmark where she finished 13th in the SUP sprint.

In 2018, Kerry decided the time was right to move on from competitive racing and seek new challenges: “I had an amazing time competing over that period, but I had to be realistic because I was in my mid-40s rather than my mid-20s, and even if I really put the hours in, I could maybe become 5% better, but that was about as far as I could go.

“That said, I was keen to stay involved so I set up Island SUP Club at Jackson’s Bay, and that’s become a huge passion of mine. We run a range of classes and activity sessions for children and adults – there’s a tremendous social side to it as well,” she said.

Kerry is urging people to give what they can afford for her Ysgol y Deri fundraiser: “The school provides education for youngsters aged between three and 19 who have a variety of learning and physical needs.

“It’s such a positive place, and the emphasis is very much on what they can do, rather than what they cannot do.

“As a teacher at Ysgol y Deri and chair of Island SUP Club, I understand the importance of spending time outside and the impact it has on our health and wellbeing. Many pupils at Ysgol y Deri need a little encouragement to engage with activities when outside, and sensory stimuli and equipment such as scooters, trikes and bikes really support this engagement.

“The outdoor environment is accessed every day at Ysgol y Deri and equipment is used heavily, so by raising funds we will be able to replenish this equipment and continue to develop it.

“The staff are incredibly dedicated to their work and there’s a real community feel to the school, and while I know times are hard at the moment with rising living costs, I’d urge people to please give whatever they can afford to help provide good-quality play facilities,” she said.

To donate to the Ysgol y Deri fundraiser, please visit JustGiving here.