The wave of positivity of well-being windsurfing!

The Official Test Centre's Well-Being Sessions are about to set sail for 2025, so what better time to speak to one of the scheme's success stories; Tanis. Tanis aged 16 has Tourettes and windsurfing has changed his life. When Tanis is on the water all his ticks melt away and in his words 'he becomes free'. A testament to the positive impact of the well-being sessions at The OTC and the power of the sea, but also how an opportunity to experience time on the water can change the path of a young person's life and give them a sense of belonging and achievement. When you come to the centre Tanis will become a familiar face and we hope his story can be one of inspiration for other young people who would like to find freedom on the water away from the worries, anxiety that trap them on land. In this blog we celebrate the wave of positivity of well-being windsurfing!

By Emma Maguire.

Tanis with the HAF kids this week being mini-professors!

Tanis has progressed from a complete beginner using big floaty boards to now windfoiling with confidence; Kerry Knight, The OTC Windsurfing School Project Manager has watched with pride the progression of Tanis, she said: "I was out on the water with Tanis last week and was so impressed, as where he started and where he is now, he has progressed so much over the past couple of years with us not just on the water but in terms of his confidence, team work, eagerness to learn and just being a general lovely young man.

Kerry added: "We are just about to start our Wellbeing Programme for 2025, the very programme that introduced Tanis to The OTC world, he is our very own success story."

It has been two years since Tanis took part in a well-being session at The Official Test Centre, I caught up with Tanis and asked him to take us back to that first time he came to The OTC.

Tanis said: "The first time I came down to The OTC was with my school and I did six free well-being sessions with the school and after I had those six free sessions with the school, my mum paid for six more and then I kept on coming down and wanted to help out, so I came down and kept helping out."

Tanis with the first HAF session last week!

What made Tanis want to carry on with his windsurfing after he took part in the first six well-being sessions?

Tanis said: "It was just freeing, very fun and to get into the cold water on a hot day it felt refreshing and freeing."

Tanis at The Official Test Centre

Two years after his first well-being session and Tanis is now foiling.

Tanis said: "Yes I am foiling and it is tonnes of fun, I have fallen off a few times and nearly hit the foil a few times, it is tonnes of fun to just get the speed and you lift up on the foil. Just the freeness of being on that foil and going for it. It is just so much fun."

You are now volunteering at The OTC?

Tanis said: "Yes I have been helping out for around two years ever since I had my first sessions."

What does Tanis get out of coming to The OTC and helping out?

Tanis said: "I just get a lot of joy from it, I love to help out and I love to windsurf. I love to learn new skills on the water and looking at the nice, open beautiful surroundings."

Does windsurfing help with your tics?

Tanis said "It does yes, once I am on the water and I am focussing on that I don't tic as much, to the point where I am not having any tics at all."

Tanis has found his happy place at The OTC!

What would Tanis say to other young people that have tics or anxiety?

Tanis said: "I would say come to The OTC and just do it, it help takes your mind off of things and helps in general. Everything about the worry goes as you are focusing on fun stuff and doing fun activities."

If it wasn't for the well-being programme would Tanis have tried windsurfing?

Tanis said: "Ever since I was a little kid I would go on the bus across the causeway and see lots of windsurfers going faster than the bus. For me, I was really encouraged by the well-being sessions at The OTC."

What is Tanis's goal for the next two years?

Tanis said: "I would like to try all the watersports. I'd like to do all of it, learn all of it. Help out more, hopefully work at The OTC. My goal is maybe to become a watersports instructor, it seems like a lot of fun and I can't wait."

Tanis is currently going through his GCSE's, does he find being on the water a good antidote to the stress of exams?

Tanis said: "I do indeed, it is way better than sitting in a room and doing them, however it is important too, I would suggest doing them. Being on the water is tonnes of fun and takes your mind off the stress and agony of doing your exams."

Why does Tanis like the community of The OTC?

Tanis said: "It is a lovely community, the staff are so friendly, so welcoming and they all encourage you to do a bunch of different stuff, it is fun."

How proud is Tanis of what he has achieved?

Tanis said: "I am very proud of what I have achieved, so far over the two years of being at The OTC learning to windsurf and now foiling on smaller boards."

The OTC stepped in to help support the wellbeing of our local young people. In 2023 we began our Windsurf Wellbeing Programme.  We specialise in working with local children and young people who may need support with social, emotional and mental health difficulties and/or special educational needs.

The young people who we work with follow a six week programme which allows them to not only learn to windsurf but, enjoy improved confidence, better communication skills, higher self esteem, improved resilience, a sense of belonging and feeling calmer.

We feel privileged to use windsurfing as an intervention to help children and young people in our communities.  Our highly qualified team support every aspect of each young persons journey and are always on hand to share their enthusiasm and passion for the sport and the environment that it is taught in.

The OTC are very fortunate to be located right on the waters edge in the grounds of the National Sailing Academy.  This offers our young people safe and direct access into the waters of Portland Harbour. Our Windsurf Wellbeing Programmes embrace the therapeutic effects of being in, on and by the ocean.  We priorities physical and mental wellbeing, building confidence and self-esteem by providing activities to our young people that support a healthy body and mind.