Get Involved

Join the Movement Creating Safer, Stronger Futures Through Water, Wellness & Leadership

Bold Waters is a mission led movement empowering young people and communities through open water, wellbeing, and purpose.

We believe everyone deserves the skills, confidence, and access to be safe in water, connected to nature, and equipped to lead in life and in their communities.

Our Programmes

We run three core programmes that work together to create lasting impact:

  • Fear to Flow (14+): We run under and over 18’s sessions

    a supportive entry point for those facing fear or uncertainty around water, designed to build comfort, awareness, and open water confidence.

  • WaveMakers (14–21):
    An introduction to wild swimming, water safety, and wellbeing delivered through schools, colleges, and youth organisations.

  • Global Flow (18+):
    A six-month leadership and employability programme including swim qualifications, mentorship, and a four-week international teaching placement.

  • Ripple Effect Retreats (Adults):
    Two-day restorative retreats focused on nature connection and water confidence with all profits helping to fund our youth programmes.

Who We’re Looking For

We’re building a collaborative network of people and partners who believe in equity, safety, and youth opportunity.
We’d love to hear from:

  • Outdoor swimming venues with safe, inclusive access

  • Qualified open water coaches and lifeguards

  • Schools, youth groups, and colleges with young people ready to grow

  • Ethical brands, funders, and donors aligned with wellbeing and inclusion

  • Changemakers who want to contribute time, energy, or resources

Why This Matters

We are facing a convergence of challenges and they disproportionately affect young people from marginalised communities:

  • Drowning is one of the UK’s leading causes of accidental death

  • 1 in 7 young people globally experience mental health challenges

  • Youth unemployment and lack of direction are rising

  • Access to nature remains unequal, despite its proven impact on wellbeing and confidence

Bold Waters is part of the solution.

We offer inclusive, culturally responsive programmes that equip young people with the tools to thrive, lead, and stay safe in water and in life.

“Our Advisory Board helps ensure our work is guided by lived experience, professional insight, and community accountability.”

Our Advisory Board

  • Melona Headley

    Melona Headley

    FOUNDER

    Melona founded Bold Waters to create safe, inclusive access to nature and wild swimming for underserved communities. With over 20 years in education and youth leadership, she brings deep experience in designing transformative, purpose-led programmes.

  • Louise Lyons-Appiah

    Louise Lyons-Appiah

    Advisory Board Member Mental Health & Wellbeing

    Louise is a passionate advocate for mental health, personal development, and equality. As co-founder of Synkora Consulting, the first youth-led EDI consultancy, and BreatheUni, a student wellbeing initiative, she empowers individuals and organizations to foster inclusivity and resilience. She has collaborated with The Foreign Office, Superdrug, Mental Health First Aid England, and HSBC, delivering impactful talks on identity, race, and mental health.

    As a Young Changemaker, she has worked with The Centre for Mental Health, The Diana Award, UK Youth, and Beyond, using her lived experience to lead social action to address systemic inequalities in mental health.

  • Amina Islam

    Amina Islam

    Advisory Board Member Youth Voice & Global Flow ambassador

    Amina is a Bengali British student. Upon learning that half her family does not know how to swim, she has become steadily passionate about water safety. 

     Amina is currently completing the global flow programme and hopes to be able to use her voice to advocate for the youth and to spread the message about water safety around the globe. She is very proud to be the Youth Voice advisory board member of Bold Waters.

  • Devonyae Headley

    Devonyae Headley

    Advisory Board Member Swim & Paddle Sports

    Devonyae is a swim teacher, coach, and founder of DH Swim School. He manages paddle sports, consults across the sector, and champions access to aquatics. As the expert voice in the Changing the Narrative docuseries, Devonyae taught participants to swim on screen and spoke powerfully on drowning prevention and inclusion on National news networks

  • Johanne Penney

    Johanne Penney

    Advisory Board Member – ED&I Strategy & Community Engagement

    Johanne Penney is a recognised thought leader and public speaker and the Founder & CEO of Amp Up Your Voice an inclusion consultancy focused on helping organisations diversify authentically and become advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Beyond her consultancy, Johanne is an executive mentor and coach, supporting individuals in overcoming systemic barriers to career progression.

  • Bianca Sawle

    Bianca Sawle

    Advisory Board Member Safeguarding & Compliance

    Bianca is an experienced safeguarding consultant and trainer.  She supports organisations across charities, public and private sectors to strengthen their safeguarding practice through training, coaching, audits, and policy development through her business BCS Safeguarding. She has spent her career helping organisations create safer spaces for children, young people, and adults at risk.

    She talks passionately about her love for being in, on, or around water and believes strongly in the power of water and nature to support wellbeing, connection, and resilience. Bianca is proud to be part of the Bold Waters advisory board, helping to ensure that its work is safe, inclusive, and accessible to all.

  • Anya James

    Anya James

    Advisory Board Member Post-16 & Global Education

    Anya is an Senior Education Advisor for the local government and Co-Founder of the Brown Skin Girls Network. Anya works to shape policies and programs that ensure equitable access to quality education for all and has led to positive changes within educational systems, benefiting countless students and communities.

    Anya is also a delegate for the UN Permanent Forum for People of African Descent, a School Governor, and sits on several prominent boards, further amplifying her influence in the sector. She has featured as a keynote speaker at numerous global events, discussing topics such as inclusion, diversity, and education reform alongside prominent figures like Tony Blair and Steven Bartlett.