Hi, my name is Ange, I am the founder of Salty Swims... well done on getting this far! 

I know venturing into something new can be quite daunting and I've felt exactly the same way myself. 

Well you're here at Salty Swims trying to figure out what this is all about just like I was myself a few years ago. I've always loved the sea but never really thought swimming was my thing. One day I decided to give open water swimming a go, in the middle of October! This really was what changed my mind, the high I got from swimming was amazing and I really was buzzing all day. 

I was coming to the end of a work contract and not knowing what to do work wise I decided to train as a swimming teacher and open water swimming coach (as you do). Mainly to ensure I swam safety and correctly, not at all because I'm prone to mad ideas! However this morphed into something completely different, the Universe had a different plan for me. 

Time after time after time I kept meeting people on the beach or just out and about who were involved in community work, enabling and supporting others, strangely they kept coming over and talking to me asking me what I was doing and we'd chat about the benefits of the cold water and the crisis in mental health at the moment. 

My work history has been complimentary therapies, welfare work, education, mental health work and so on and so forth.... you get the idea of the roles I do.  So it was a complete change for me swimming teaching and coaching.  

Then I had an epiphany. The sea helped me sort my own head out I'm sure I can use everything I have to help others sort out theirs.  Then Salty Swims changed, along came the cold water therapy, the community swims and the teenagers mental health swims, because it seems that's what's needed. I managed to get funding from organisations such as The National Lottery and Active Cornwall to run these swims. Although I can always do with more that's what keeps us ticking over at present.

For myself I take time out of my day and go for a swim, it's the best thing for me to do because it gives me a break from the madness that daily life can be. I have a more positive outlook for the day or week ahead.  Being in the water, especially in the cold really has changed my life. It has improved my mental health, broadened my horizons, and given me focus and purpose, I found new friends and I find peace in the water.  I believe it can do this for everyone and so a new and improved Salty Swims has and continues to develop.

In every session we run we support each individual as they need it. We encourage them to achieve their goals they set for themselves. We support you in discovering the well-being benefits of being outdoors in the cold water. Whatever you need we will find a way together.

Qualifications

• STA (Swimming Teachers Association) Open Water Swimming Coaching -Level 2
• STA Swimming Teacher - Level 2
• Complimentary Health Therapy Degree
• Cold Water Therapy Diploma 
• Mental Health Awareness for Sport and Physical Activity Certificate
• Mentoring -Level 7 
• Health and Wellness Coach - Level 5
• Counselling - Level 3