ABOUT THE 365
inspiring others
Our Mission:
To raise vital funds for local community projects, improve people’s mental & physical wellbeing, rewilding marine habitats (Seagrass), reconnect people with nature and wild spaces, community, conservation and education.
Founded out of friendship & a desire to embrace the sea & it's changing tides, temperament & environment. Myself (Chris Thomas) & Rob Hunt embarked on our self imposed challenge, to swim in the sea, every day for one year without wetsuits. On completion of our journey we have donated over £10,000, created a community of support, assisted local conservation groups & educated ourselves & friends. This has become the bedrock for the 365.
PROJECTS
THE COVE DISCOVERY PROJECT
Inspiring change
The project is set up to celebrate the lives of both wildlife and people in and around Churston Cove, Brixham, Devon.
This exciting collaboration of conservation and community creates opportunities for learning and sharing, all focused on ‘The Cove’.
We aim to raise awareness of this important wild space for both humans and wildlife.
FURZEHAM PRIMARY SCHOOL GARDEN
Together with The Cove Discovery Project
We are very excited to be working with our good friends The Cove Discovery Project to bring a green space to life at Furzham Primary School. We are raising funds to kick start a conservation garden for the school, alongside this we will be delivering presentations about local marine life and habitat.
ASSOCIATE PARTNER OF THE ENGLISH RIVIERA UNESCO GLOBAL GEOPARK
Project Tagline
We are extremely proud to have been accepted as an associate partner of the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark (ERUGGp). This has been a result of our efforts in conservation, education, community & the environment. the ERUGGp will promote, support, facilitate, encourage the 365 Sea Swim Challenge on a local, national, or international level. We are very much looking forward to this partnership & continuing the growth & good work that the 365 are involved with.
CRAB LINE & DROP NET RECYCLING SCHEME
A Real Success
We are very excited to be leading this scheme in Brixham. The threat to marine wildlife from lost or discarded crab lines & drop nets is a serious issue for coastal towns. We teamed up with Looe Marine Conservation Group who have a great model working in Cornwall, which we have repeated in & around Brixham harbour.
PRIMARY SCHOOL PRESENTATIONS
Inspiring others
It is really exciting for us to have the opportunity to talk, & engage with young people. We have some amazing children at our local Primary Schools who have already developed opinions and knowledge about conservation and environmental impact factors. We have talked with them about the importance of reducing plastic waste in our oceans, recycling & marine wildlife welfare.
BDMLR
Marine mammal medic course
We now have a trained Marine Mammal Medic as part of our team. We see this as a vital inclusion to our skill set, as it will enable us to assist the Seal Project on any seal pub call outs.
VOLUNTEERS
Community engagement
Involving the local community is a vital part of the 365, building strong team bonds & friendships. We are recruiting an incredible group of volunteers, collecting the material & sorting for recycling. The 365 have teamed up with Odyssey Innovations who will be using the plastic to make ocean kayaks.
DONATIONS
It Starts With the Will to Make a Difference
The 365 Sea Swim Challenge has so far donated £12,165.14, shared between a local marine mammal charity & Shoalstone Seawater Pool. We are currently working on our 'Discovering the Cove Schools initiative' funded through the Devon Environment Foundation.
The 365 Sea Swim Challenge is so much greater than it may first seem. Swim in the sea for a year? sounds great, some might say easy. But then ask yourself, why? Why would someone drag themselves into the sea in the middle of winter, in the rain, maybe in the dark just to fulfil one day of a 365-day challenge.
Because the 365 gives you a reason to get up & out every day, it takes you to a place where, if you had not joined, you maybe would not go. It puts people in the wild, you feel alive, refreshed, reset & for some healed. When you sign up for the 365 you join a community, a growing family of support & like-minded people all with their own cause but with a common goal, to give a little back.
Each 365 challenger has their own personal goals & ambitions, raising awareness for a charity or cause, to win their own personal battles & recover from past experience, everyone’s 365 journey is unique. But we all have that common bond of the sea or wild space we choose to swim.
I choose the 365 to do a little bit of good in my community, I believe I can inspire others to do the same & a little bit of good is not a bad thing.