A wave of inspiration on International Women's Day
British sporting legend Victoria Pendleton spent International Women’s Day in Valencia to celebrate the power of surfing and highlight the crucial role Kind Surf is playing in changing the lives of young people across Spain.
The event, delivered in partnership with British Embassy in Spain’s GREAT campaign, saw Victoria join Kind Surf co-founder Almudena Fernández to celebrate the project’s inspirational work changing the lives of young people in Valencia and beyond.
Founded in 2012 by Almudena Fernández and one of Spain’s greatest surfers, Artiz Aranburu, Kind Surf uses surf therapy at locations in Valencia and Zarautz to support young people at risk of social exclusion due to intellectual disabilities.
Over the past ten years, more than 1,500 young people have benefited from its sessions. The Kind Surf team includes therapeutic surf instructors, occupational therapists, professional surfers, coordinators, and psychologists, providing holistic support to the young people reached by the programme. Kind Surf believes that as every wave is different, surfing can release stress, build confidence and help participants regulate their emotions by identifying and facing them.
Founded in 2012 by Almudena Fernández and one of Spain’s greatest surfers, Artiz Aranburu, Kind Surf uses surf therapy at locations in Valencia and Zarautz to support young people at risk of social exclusion due to intellectual disabilities.
Over the past ten years, more than 1,500 young people have benefited from its sessions. The Kind Surf team includes therapeutic surf instructors, occupational therapists, professional surfers, coordinators, and psychologists, providing holistic support to the young people reached by the programme. Kind Surf believes that as every wave is different, surfing can release stress, build confidence and help participants regulate their emotions by identifying and facing them.
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Kind Surf is one of six global grassroots sport for development programmes shortlisted for the 2025 Laureus Sport for Good Award. Recognised by the 69 legends of the Laureus World Sports Academy for exceptional work in changing the lives of underprivileged youth through the power of sport, the Award recipient will be announced at the 25th anniversary Laureus World Sports Awards, staged in Madrid on April 21st.
The British Embassy in Spain partnered with Laureus Sport for Good to host this event, the latest in a year-long campaign called GREAT Gamechangers, designed to promote core British values of inclusion, diversity and equality in sport. The campaign has brought together athletes and influencers to create connections and prove that what happens off the pitch matters too. Its key message is to embrace difference and to be a Gamechanger - the UK and Spain, as two great sporting nations, having produced countless inspirational gamechangers like Victoria and Almudena.
As part of the partnership between Laureus Sport for Good and The British Embassy in Spain, programme leaders from The Wave Project in England also joined the session. The Wave Project uses sport to improve the lives of young people suffering from mental health issues. The programme was the world’s first ‘surf therapy’ course funded by a government health service as the National Health Services funded a pilot scheme back in 2010.
The British Embassy in Spain partnered with Laureus Sport for Good to host this event, the latest in a year-long campaign called GREAT Gamechangers, designed to promote core British values of inclusion, diversity and equality in sport. The campaign has brought together athletes and influencers to create connections and prove that what happens off the pitch matters too. Its key message is to embrace difference and to be a Gamechanger - the UK and Spain, as two great sporting nations, having produced countless inspirational gamechangers like Victoria and Almudena.
As part of the partnership between Laureus Sport for Good and The British Embassy in Spain, programme leaders from The Wave Project in England also joined the session. The Wave Project uses sport to improve the lives of young people suffering from mental health issues. The programme was the world’s first ‘surf therapy’ course funded by a government health service as the National Health Services funded a pilot scheme back in 2010.
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Victoria Pendleton, Laureus Ambassador and two-time British Olympic champion, said: “The work Kind Surf are doing to instil hope in at risk local youth through surfing, especially after the devastating floods that hit the region late last year, is incredible.
"I am honoured to be a patron of the wave project back in the UK, and I’m sure there are ways that Almudena and I can share experiences and learnings to benefit the young people in the programmes Laureus supports. That’s what Laureus is all about.”
"I am honoured to be a patron of the wave project back in the UK, and I’m sure there are ways that Almudena and I can share experiences and learnings to benefit the young people in the programmes Laureus supports. That’s what Laureus is all about.”
“Sport has an incredible power to unite people with a common goal, and I’ve been lucky enough to personally experience the benefits of surf therapy since retiring from cycling so it’s been great to meet and learn about the work Almudena and Kind Surf are doing.”
Almudena Fernández, co-founder of Kind Surf, said: “What an incredible honour to host Victoria here in Spain on International Women’s Day. It gives me a huge sense of pride that Kind Surf has been recognised by Laureus and included on the shortlist for the Laureus Sport for Good Award. The values of Laureus are similar to my own, and I’m a real believer in the power sport can have in changing the lives of young people. That’s why we started Kind Surf.
“If through surfing and the power of sport, we can change lives but also raise awareness for climate issues, we’ll be making a lasting difference. Finally, a message of thanks, both personally and on behalf of Kind Surf, to Laureus and the British Embassy in Spain for the support.”
Sir Alex Ellis, the British Ambassador to Spain who took part in the event, said: “It was inspiring to be able to spend some time with these young people in Valencia today. Their enthusiasm for surfing and today’s programme shows how sport can empower and unite those who practice it. From the British Embassy, we want the ‘Gamechangers’ campaign to help make inclusion in sport the norm, rather than the exception.”
Laureus Sport for Good is a global leader in the sport for development sector, supporting more than 300 programmes around the world like Kind Surf that utilise and empower local expertise to establish authentic connections with the communities they reach. Each programme uses the power of sport to address needs that are specific to those communities. Laureus Sport for Good is the bridge between grassroots change-makers and global decision-makers.
Today’s activity in Valencia wasn’t the first collaboration and knowledge sharing opportunity for Kind Surf and The Wave Project are both founding members of the International Surf Therapy Organisation, a global community of surf therapy practitioners & researchers harnessing the power of collaboration and the ocean to advance the use of surf therapy as a mental and physical health intervention.
“If through surfing and the power of sport, we can change lives but also raise awareness for climate issues, we’ll be making a lasting difference. Finally, a message of thanks, both personally and on behalf of Kind Surf, to Laureus and the British Embassy in Spain for the support.”
Sir Alex Ellis, the British Ambassador to Spain who took part in the event, said: “It was inspiring to be able to spend some time with these young people in Valencia today. Their enthusiasm for surfing and today’s programme shows how sport can empower and unite those who practice it. From the British Embassy, we want the ‘Gamechangers’ campaign to help make inclusion in sport the norm, rather than the exception.”
Laureus Sport for Good is a global leader in the sport for development sector, supporting more than 300 programmes around the world like Kind Surf that utilise and empower local expertise to establish authentic connections with the communities they reach. Each programme uses the power of sport to address needs that are specific to those communities. Laureus Sport for Good is the bridge between grassroots change-makers and global decision-makers.
Today’s activity in Valencia wasn’t the first collaboration and knowledge sharing opportunity for Kind Surf and The Wave Project are both founding members of the International Surf Therapy Organisation, a global community of surf therapy practitioners & researchers harnessing the power of collaboration and the ocean to advance the use of surf therapy as a mental and physical health intervention.
