Fundraising: Dip into nature in Devon

This winter we’re staying connected to nature, and boosting our immunity and well-being by committing to #DipIntoNature during the colder months, while raising funds for local nature restoration projects in Devon.

Cold water dips have become hugely popular in recent years, as more people discover the incredible physical and mental health benefits of cold water therapy, and regularly getting outside into nature.

This winter season, at DEF we’re challenging ourselves to dip into nature regularly to reap the personal benefits of cold water immersion and raise funds for Devon Environment Foundation – so we can fund more brilliant grassroots nature restoration projects like these.

If you need a little extra motivation to dip into the sea (or river) this winter, why not join us by setting up a fundraiser to create accountability by asking your friends and family to sponsor your efforts in aid of DEF?

Fundraise for DEF while enjoying the benefits of regular winter dipping into nature.

If you’d like to join us for our Dip into Nature Winter Challenge and set up your own fundraiser in aid of DEF, please follow these simple steps…

It will take you less than 2 minutes to set up your Dip into Nature fundraiser for DEF:

  • Navigate to Conservation Collective’s page on Crowdfunder’s website (this is DEF’s parent charity): https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/conservationcollective
  • Look on the right hand side of the page, and click on the ‘Fundraise for this charity’ button
  • Select the ‘Create your Fundraiser’ button
  • Sign in or sign up to Crowdfunder (takes 2 seconds)
  • Decide on your target (doesn’t have to be big, we are grateful for all amounts, and if you raise more than your target, we still receive it! 😁)
  • Choose the name of your fundraiser, we suggest something like: ‘[Your name]’s Dip into Nature Winter Challenge for DEF’
  • Tell the crowd the aim of your fundraiser, e.g. ‘Raising funds for local nature restoration in Devon’
  • Fill in a little bit of text about what you are doing, to save time you are very welcome to copy/paste/personalise the core text used in Amanda’s or Maisie’s fundraisers.
  • You can also copy and save the image off this page or Amanda’s fundraiser if you don’t have one of your own that you would like to use.

We’d love for you to join us and dip into nature for DEF this winter!

To inspire you, we’ve created 3 levels to choose from for our #DipIntoNature winter challenge 2024/25:

 

“REFRESHING“🧊️
Commit to 16 winter dips – averaging at approx. one dip a week 1 Dec 2024 to 31 March 2025.

“INVIGORATING“🧊🧊
Commit to 30 winter dips – averaging at approx. two dips a week 1 Dec 2024 to 31 March 2025, or every day for a particular month.

“REVITALISING“🧊 🧊 🧊 
Commit to 60 dips – averaging at approx. four dips a week 1 Dec 2024 to 31 March 2025.

 

We’ve also organised a couple of festive events to encourage group dipping! We’d love to see you there…

PRE-CHRISTMAS ✨

  • Sun 22nd December 2024 (9am) – Blackpool Sands, nr Dartmouth, TQ6 0RG.
  • Meet next to the sauna on the beach.
  • Brya Life (part of Sea Kayak Devon) is kindly offering all our dippers a free sauna session between 9am to 9.50am on Sun 22nd December.
  • Plus, anyone who sets up a Dip Into fundraiser for DEF, can email Amanda for a 20% discount off their Open Sauna sessions booked Monday-Friday from 2nd January to 31st March 2025. Multiple visits allowed, subject to availability. Week day opening hours are Mon – Thur 10.00-17.00 and Fri 9.00-20.00.

 

NEW YEAR’S DAY 💫

  • Wed 1st January 2025 (11am) – Bigbury-on-Sea, The Causeway (opposite Burgh Island), TQ7 4AS.
  • Meet at the bottom of the slipway leading onto the causeway crossing to Burgh Island.

 

** IMPORTANT**

The events are subject to weather conditions, if it is unsafe to swim on the day we will not be dipping.

There will be no safety cover, first aid, or lifeguards present at any of the events. Dippers are responsible for their own health and safety.

Please only dip if you are a confident swimmer and the weather and tidal conditions and currents are safe. If in doubt, choose another day. Always respect the sea, especially in winter.

We recommend you try to avoid swallowing the water due to increased likelihood of pollution and run-off during the winter months.

More about the cause:

Devon Environment Foundation channels funds to impactful grassroots initiatives that protect natural habitats, restore native species, reduce pollution, and build climate resilience.

We are an independent, agile charity that directs funds where they are needed quickly to deliver the greatest benefits for nature.

We fill a funding gap for smaller, pioneering projects requiring flexible funding and mentoring support to get up and running.

In our experience, relatively small amounts of funding, strategically directed, can supercharge the work of small projects delivering positive environmental change on the ground.

Since 2020, we’ve awarded over £1 million in direct grants, supporting 79 projects, working with 41 project partners. 

You can see the wide range of projects we have enabled HERE.

We would love you to support DEF’s mission so we can seed even more local nature restoration projects, and showcase their successes to inspire hope and wider action.