Surfing Charity Gifts at Christmas

Struggling for ideas about what to buy your favourite surfer this Christmas? Struggle no more.

Surfing charities offer loads of Christmas gift ideas from t-shirts to teddy bears, or simple gift subscriptions.

Buy your stocking fillers from one of these awesome organisations, and help people and places in need:

Surfrider Foundation

Born on Malibu beach, 30 years ago by a bunch of surfers. They were worried about the escalating environmental and health risks caused by continual coastal development. So they took action.

Surfrider Foundation is one of the largest non-profit grassroots organisations working to protect our oceans, waves and beaches. With over 250,000 supporters in the U.S.A alone, they have the power to protect.

The Surfrider Foundation store offer a great range of goodies including beanies, socks, beach towels, jackets, t-shirts and of course gift subscriptions. All members also get 20% discount at swell.com.

Save The Waves Coalition

Save The Waves Coalition is a non profit organisation focused exclusively on protecting surf spots and their surrounding environments from pollution and excessive development. They proactively protect coastlines through a combination of education, research and documentaries.

Save The Wave’s team of devoted scientists, surfers and activists are committed to help everyone realise the economic and social value of our precious coast. Too many waves and wonderful coastlines have been damaged beyond repair in the name of ‘development’. Lets not let another legendary surf spot fade into folklore.

You can support Save the Waves by buying a t-shirt, sticker or film this Christmas. Or give a gift membership for that gift that keeps on giving.

Surf Aid

In 1999, physician, surfer and SurfAid founder Dr Dave Jenkins went on a surf charter to the Mentawai Islands with one goal in mind – to find perfect waves. What he discovered changed his life …

Thanks to Dr Dave’s friends and fellow surfers, SurfAid is now an international development organisation dedicated to enriching lives, increasing people’s choices and helping them realise their potential.

SurfAid contributes to the efforts of remote communities in Indonesia. They nurture positive change, and ensure local ownership, so changes can be sustained well beyond the life of the project.

Help SurfAid improve the quality of life for those who suffer in our surf paradise. Buy a t-shirt, cap or simply contribute some cash.

Surfers Against Sewage

The clue to this charity’s mission is in the name ‘Surfers Against Sewage’. It all began when a bunch of Cornish surfers got fed up with raw sewage being pumped into the sea at their favourite surf spots. Fourteen years of campaigning later and the UK’s bathing water standards have improved significantly.

But sewage is still being pumped out with alarming regularity from combined sewer overflows. The amount of marine litter washed on to UK beaches has doubled in the last 15 years, this environmental crisis alone shows the urgent need for SAS’s ongoing work.

So help Surfers Against Sewage continue protecting the oceans, waves and beaches for all to enjoy safely and sustainably. Give a special Protect Our Waves (POW) Guardian gift membership which includes a free POW t-shirt. Or shop at the SAS Eco surf shop online for a range of gifts for surfer girls, boys and groms.

The Wave Project

The Wave Project began in 2010, when the NHS Trust in Cornwall funded a six-week pilot scheme to examine the benefits of surfing on the emotional health of young people.

The results of the pilot showed that going surfing once a week helped participants feel more confident, improved their outlook and gave them a sense of fun.

The Wave Project uses local surfers to help young people reduce anxiety and improve their emotional health. New projects have been set up all over the UK, including in Wales, Scotland and even inner-city London!

So help get more vulnerable young people surfing, so they can lead a more positive and happier life. Go Christmas shopping at The Wave Project and stuff someone’s stocking with t-shirts and teddy bears. Or simply donate a few pennies.

I’ve tried to find a variety of surfing charities that serve surfers and good causes across the globe. Also surf charities that make it easy and rewarding to contribute by offering a range of gifts and gift subscriptions.

However, if you know of a great surf charity that isn’t mentioned above, please let me know more in the comments below. Happy Christmas.