OUR AMBASSADORS
Our brilliant and ore inspiring Ambassadors are really keen to help promote the natural restorative effects of being active in, on and around water. They want to help spread the message that regular visits to blue spaces improve health, mental health and overall wellbeing.
We are proud our Ambassadors have come forward to volunteer their time in order :
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to champion the charity's activity and key messages
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to network and build a community of interest where people meet online and in real life to share ideas and experiences
Juliet Turnbull
Juliet Turnbull (The Thames Mermaid) is a brilliant Textiles artist who uses her time being in, on and around water as her inspiration. Her work includes using her sewing machine to create beautiful pieces influenced by water.
She lives on the water in her boat which is moored on the River Thames. Often she swims in the river near her mooring and plays a big part of running Surrey Outdoor Swimmers group.
Juliet has made amazing life choices that have led to her being surrounded and constantly inspired by water. This has helped her overcome health related conditions improving her health and wellbeing. One adventure has seen her swim the entire length of the non tidal River Thames and she has captured this on her YouTube channel you can find out more about Juliet by clicking on the following links:
https://www.juliet-turnbull.com/
https://www.facebook.com/JulietTurnbullTextileArtist/videos/?ref=page_internal
Kathleen Wotton
Kathleen lives close to the sea in the North East of England and has always been drawn to be in, on and around water. She suffered severe bulling at school which caused her to become more withdrawn and contributed to her struggling with social anxiety and isolation in later life.
Suffering with lipoedema and fibromyalgia left Kathleen got to a point where she felt her life would soon be over. During the initial 2020 pandemic Kathleen got back into the water and feels this saved her life. Being in, on and around water lifted the pain, allowed her to be more active and to reconnect with people and nature. Her story continues to inspire via her brilliant presence on social media and via national and international media outlets.
Find out more about Kathleen here:
Juliet Turnbull
Juliet Turnbull (The Thames Mermaid) is a brilliant Textiles artist who uses her time being in, on and around water as her inspiration. Her work includes using her sewing machine to create beautiful pieces influenced by water.
She lives on the water in her boat which is moored on the River Thames. Often she swims in the river near her mooring and plays a big part of running Surrey Outdoor Swimmers group.
Juliet has made amazing life choices that have led to her being surrounded and constantly inspired by water. This has helped her overcome health related conditions improving her health and wellbeing. One adventure has seen her swim the entire length of the non tidal River Thames and she has captured this on her YouTube channel you can find out more about Juliet by clicking on the following links:
https://www.juliet-turnbull.com/
https://linktr.ee/julietturnbull
Juliet Turnbull
Juliet Turnbull (The Thames Mermaid) is a brilliant Textiles artist who uses her time being in, on and around water as her inspiration. Her work includes using her sewing machine to create beautiful pieces influenced by water.
She lives on the water in her boat which is moored on the River Thames. Often she swims in the river near her mooring and plays a big part of running Surrey Outdoor Swimmers group.
Juliet has made amazing life choices that have led to her being surrounded and constantly inspired by water. This has helped her overcome health related conditions improving her health and wellbeing. One adventure has seen her swim the entire length of the non tidal River Thames and she has captured this on her YouTube channel you can find out more about Juliet by clicking on the following links:
https://www.juliet-turnbull.com/
https://linktr.ee/julietturnbull
David Burke
David is former Paralympian and is an inspiration for people looking to get active in, on and around water. He lost his leg as boy in a stock car racing accident growing up in Northern Ireland. Since that traumatic event the water has been a place of solace and fulfilment for David.
He has set various records as an amputee open water swimmer, completed relay channel swimming crossings and is a key member of infinity channel crossing team helping others fulfil their dreams.
Most recently David has been inspired by the key messages relating to Bluetonic to bring a group of amputee swimmers to attempt the North Channel. This will be the first such attempt and whatever the outcome will inspire others to be active in Blue Spaces. For people interested in swim challenges you can find out more about Infinity Channel Swimming here:
https://infinitychannelswimming.com/
Rachel Whitfield
Rachel swims in rivers or the sea everyday, and has found that the water has helped both her physical and mental health profoundly. Before she swum she suffered from an auto immune disease which was life restricting, however she has found that with regular swimming this is now in full remission.
Rachel has found that being in or near the water also creates moments of magic with spending time near nature and also the wonderful swimming community which has brought so much laughter and joy into her life.
Rachel really thrives on bringing people together, and is an admin for Hampshire Open Water Swimmers, as well as being a host for a Mental Health swim on the River Itchen. Rachel enjoys jumping in, daft fancy dress, and trying to help other people appreciate the water and our beautiful natural environment.
You can find out more about Rachel's swimming group and mental health swims here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/HOWSwimmers/about/
https://www.mentalhealthswims.co.uk/
Rachel Andrews
Jo Gifford
Jo Gifford is an advocate for the magic of water, and is mainly to be found swimming in the rivers around Cambridgeshire. Having discovered the profound healing of blue space for grief and chronic illness, she became an advocate for wild swimming and cold water immersion.
Jo has written widely on the benefits of blue mind, and is also the author of 'Wild Currents: Poems on the Transformative Power of Water In Turbulent Times'. Jo is a writer and content marketer, and lives near Cambridge with her family.
Jo has a podcast at The Human Connection Experience
and her brilliant work as a columnist can be seen here Brainz Magazine
Her book Brilliance Unboxed here on Amazon or here on Barnes and Noble. As well as poetry, 'Wild Currents: Poems On The Transformative Power of Water in Turbulent Times' is available for pre-order now here.
Sujatha Menon
Sujatha Menon is a writer and musician who originally trained as a visual artist. She is currently Poet in Residence at the University of Warwick and the author of two water themed poetry books The Glass Puddle (Vole 2022) and Night Swan to Nigg (Cromarty Arts Trust 2022). Her poems have been published internationally and her songs with the band Satsangi have been broadcast on the BBC, MTV and featured in magazines such as Rolling Stone.
Alongside her creative work, Sujatha has worked for many years in the health and fitness industry. She now teaches yoga and swimming and is exploring ways to combine both practices in relation to open water. To learn more about Sujatha’s projects and work as a writer, musician and aquaholic you can visit: www.sujathamenon.com
Rachel is a YouTuber known as Everyday Athlete she shares an amazing amount of knowledge via her channel. Her content is warm, friendly and is about supporting people to swim in the outdoors.
She covers topics water safety, swimming kit / equipment as well as promoting the amazing benefits people get from being in, on, and around water. She is determined to provide content that busts myths, helps connect people and supports people's choices when looking to swim safely in open water.
You can find out more about Rachel here:
http://www.youtube.com/c/everydayathleterach
