It marked the Jersey-based charity’s fourth trip to Guernsey.
‘We love Guernsey. It’s a second home for us now,’ said Max Wiltshire, co-founder of the organisation.
‘There’s a really strong demand over here, which is fantastic.
‘There are so many children and adults of all ranges of need accessing and benefitting when we come over. We certainly fill the week each time.’
The charity, which was established in 2017, dedicates itself to providing access to water sports for those with physical, neurological and mental health challenges.
‘We’ve got everything you could possibly need to make the ocean accessible for anyone and everyone,’ said Mr Wiltshire, pointing to the two loaded trucks of specialist equipment they had brought with them, including floating beach wheelchairs, seated surfboards, adapted wetsuits and walking frames that can go on the sand.
‘It’s all about breaking down barriers.
‘We have people who maybe have had accidents, or things happen in their lives where they used to be able to get into the sea and then for one reason or another there’s a barrier in place that prevents them from doing so.
‘With a specialist approach and equipment, we can break down those barriers and get them back in.’
This year the team planned three sessions a day over five days, but bad weather forced cancellations on the first day.
However, the team managed to re-schedule all those impacted, meaning their full set of expected attendees – which included members from the Headway group, Guernsey Down Syndrome Society, the Adult Disability Service, and Autism Outreach Service, as well as several student groups from schools across the island – were all able to attend a session this year.
Despite still being in the midst of their 2026 visit, the team is already looking forward to their return to Guernsey next year.
‘It’ll be 10 years of Healing Waves and five years of being in Guernsey, so a pretty iconic year for us.’
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