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This summer we’re teaming up with our friends at @westcountrywp for our first Summer Swim Challenge 🌊

It’s not a race and it’s not about speed.
It’s about being outside together, building confidence in the water, and challenging yourself in whatever way feels right for you.

For some people that might be their first 1km swim. For others, 2km.

For others, it might just be giving it a go at all.

We’ll have workshops and swim sessions running over the next few months for anyone wanting support building up to it 💙

You can find out all about the event via our linktree in our bio.

So, who's in?? Tag your swim bestie!

This International Women’s Day we’re celebrating the power of women working together.

Across our organisations, we see every day how connecting with nature, community, and each other can support wellbeing, confidence and belonging.
This year’s theme, Give To Gain, reminds us that when we share our knowledge, time, and support, we create stronger communities and more opportunities for women to thrive.

That spirit of collaboration is exactly what has brought us together.

✨ Watch this space… a very exciting new collaboration, The Nature Consortia will be launching soon on socials VERY soon.

Together we’re working to widen access to nature, improve wellbeing, and amplify the voices of communities who deserve greater connection to the outdoors. #IWD2026 #GIVETOGAIN

Wow what a night! Thank you @bristol247 we are still taking it all in! To be one of the winners in the Community Legends category was so incredible. To be amongst so many creative, vibrant people was inspiring and ALOT of fun!
.
Special shout out to our @thenatureconsortia sisters from @activebeing1 and @soultrailwellbeing. Celebrating with you made it all the more special.
.
Huge thanks to all our swimmers and supporters as without you there would be no us.
.
Big love and congratulations to all the nominees and winners.
#bristollegends

Wow what a night! Thank you @bristol247 we are still taking it all in! To be one of the winners in the Community Legends category was so incredible. To be amongst so many creative, vibrant people was inspiring and ALOT of fun!
.
Special shout out to our @thenatureconsortia sisters from @activebeing1 and @soultrailwellbeing. Celebrating with you made it all the more special.
.
Huge thanks to all our swimmers and supporters as without you there would be no us.
.
Big love and congratulations to all the nominees and winners.
#bristollegends

Wow what a night! Thank you @bristol247 we are still taking it all in! To be one of the winners in the Community Legends category was so incredible. To be amongst so many creative, vibrant people was inspiring and ALOT of fun!
.
Special shout out to our @thenatureconsortia sisters from @activebeing1 and @soultrailwellbeing. Celebrating with you made it all the more special.
.
Huge thanks to all our swimmers and supporters as without you there would be no us.
.
Big love and congratulations to all the nominees and winners.
#bristollegends

Wow what a night! Thank you @bristol247 we are still taking it all in! To be one of the winners in the Community Legends category was so incredible. To be amongst so many creative, vibrant people was inspiring and ALOT of fun!
.
Special shout out to our @thenatureconsortia sisters from @activebeing1 and @soultrailwellbeing. Celebrating with you made it all the more special.
.
Huge thanks to all our swimmers and supporters as without you there would be no us.
.
Big love and congratulations to all the nominees and winners.
#bristollegends

Wow what a night! Thank you @bristol247 we are still taking it all in! To be one of the winners in the Community Legends category was so incredible. To be amongst so many creative, vibrant people was inspiring and ALOT of fun!
.
Special shout out to our @thenatureconsortia sisters from @activebeing1 and @soultrailwellbeing. Celebrating with you made it all the more special.
.
Huge thanks to all our swimmers and supporters as without you there would be no us.
.
Big love and congratulations to all the nominees and winners.
#bristollegends

Wow what a night! Thank you @bristol247 we are still taking it all in! To be one of the winners in the Community Legends category was so incredible. To be amongst so many creative, vibrant people was inspiring and ALOT of fun!
.
Special shout out to our @thenatureconsortia sisters from @activebeing1 and @soultrailwellbeing. Celebrating with you made it all the more special.
.
Huge thanks to all our swimmers and supporters as without you there would be no us.
.
Big love and congratulations to all the nominees and winners.
#bristollegends

Wow what a night! Thank you @bristol247 we are still taking it all in! To be one of the winners in the Community Legends category was so incredible. To be amongst so many creative, vibrant people was inspiring and ALOT of fun!
.
Special shout out to our @thenatureconsortia sisters from @activebeing1 and @soultrailwellbeing. Celebrating with you made it all the more special.
.
Huge thanks to all our swimmers and supporters as without you there would be no us.
.
Big love and congratulations to all the nominees and winners.
#bristollegends

Wow what a night! Thank you @bristol247 we are still taking it all in! To be one of the winners in the Community Legends category was so incredible. To be amongst so many creative, vibrant people was inspiring and ALOT of fun!
.
Special shout out to our @thenatureconsortia sisters from @activebeing1 and @soultrailwellbeing. Celebrating with you made it all the more special.
.
Huge thanks to all our swimmers and supporters as without you there would be no us.
.
Big love and congratulations to all the nominees and winners.
#bristollegends

Wow what a night! Thank you @bristol247 we are still taking it all in! To be one of the winners in the Community Legends category was so incredible. To be amongst so many creative, vibrant people was inspiring and ALOT of fun!
.
Special shout out to our @thenatureconsortia sisters from @activebeing1 and @soultrailwellbeing. Celebrating with you made it all the more special.
.
Huge thanks to all our swimmers and supporters as without you there would be no us.
.
Big love and congratulations to all the nominees and winners.
#bristollegends

Our Learn to Surf programme is now FULL for this cohort and the 🌊

But here’s a little glimpse of what the sessions look like in action - big thanks to @activebeing1 for partnering on this fab course 🙌

Loads of encouragement, confidence building, connection, and plenty of fun in the water.

If you missed out this time, keep your eyes peeled for some upcoming ‘Play in the Bay’ sessions at @thewave later this summer.

These sessions are all about having fun in the water without the surfing, think ... feet paddling in the shallows, jumping through white water, building water confidence, and creating joyful memories in the waves all with a group of people you can trust.

You can watch the full video on our Youtube channel 🤘

Don’t forget, there are plenty of ways to get involved in nature-based activitiesthrough the @thenatureconsortiathis is a partnership of three fantastic nature based organisations comprising of us here at Open Minds Active, @soultrailwellbeingand @activebeing1

💙

Friday Harbour Swim 💙

Slow mornings, cold water, and stunning views across the harbour.

Our Harbour Swim sessions in partnership with @aawatersports are back at Baltic Wharf, creating space to move, connect, and feel good in the water right in the Centre of Bristol.

⏰Fridays, 9–10am

👉May 22nd
👉June 5th, 12th, 19th & 26th

Spaces are limited, with priority given to people with a mental or physical health need.

To secure a place, email: referrals@openmindsactive.org

Sometimes it’s hard to explain what cold water swimming actually gives people 💙

Then someone says something like this and it offers a moment to pause, breathe differently and quiet the noise for a little while.

For many people in our Wild Swim for Wellbeing programme, the water becomes part of how they manage anxiety, stress and overwhelm.

Not a cure-all, not a magic fix, just a space where things can feel a little lighter.

Tag your swim buddy who will resonate with these words and most of all ... this feeling.

Sometimes it’s hard to explain what cold water swimming actually gives people 💙

Then someone says something like this and it offers a moment to pause, breathe differently and quiet the noise for a little while.

For many people in our Wild Swim for Wellbeing programme, the water becomes part of how they manage anxiety, stress and overwhelm.

Not a cure-all, not a magic fix, just a space where things can feel a little lighter.

Tag your swim buddy who will resonate with these words and most of all ... this feeling.

Sometimes it’s hard to explain what cold water swimming actually gives people 💙

Then someone says something like this and it offers a moment to pause, breathe differently and quiet the noise for a little while.

For many people in our Wild Swim for Wellbeing programme, the water becomes part of how they manage anxiety, stress and overwhelm.

Not a cure-all, not a magic fix, just a space where things can feel a little lighter.

Tag your swim buddy who will resonate with these words and most of all ... this feeling.

“I felt like I was in a cocoon,
but now I’ve found my butterfly wings.”

Someone said this to us who attended one of our programmes, and it’s stayed with us.

That shift doesn’t happen all at once, its gradual and non linear.

For some people, it’s just getting in.

For others, it’s staying a little longer, or swimming a bit further than before.

It all counts 💙

We’ve got our summer swim challenge coming up. Why not set yourself a gentle challenge. There’s plenty of time to build up to it in your own way.

If you’re curious, you can find out by clicking the link in our bio 💙

This week saw the first session of our 2026 Socially Prescribed Wild Swimming for Wellbeing programme 💙

A fantastic group of women, each finding their own flow in the water.

It’s always special to see those first sessions unfold 🫶

Referrals for 2026 are now open! You can self-refer, but just to manage expectations, spaces are limited and prioritised for people living in Bristol with a mental and/or physical health need.

If it feels like something that could support you or someone you know, you can find out more via the link in our bio 🔗

Sunnier days are coming ☀️

There’s always a point in the year where it just… changes.

The water doesn’t feel quite as biting,
the sun hangs around a bit longer,
and getting in doesn’t feel like such a big deal anymore.

We’ve started to see more of you coming back. Familiar faces, a few new ones, people standing at the edge working up the courage 💙

It’s our favourite time of year. The workshops start back up and we get to welcome so many new faces.

We’ve got some gentle workshops coming up if you want a bit of support easing back in. Whether that’s getting comfortable in open water for the first time, or building confidence and front crawl in a really relaxed group.

Link’s in the bio if you want to take a look!

What our community say 💙

“It has given me a chance to connect, a reason to get up and get out and do exercise I know is good and beneficial for my mental and physical health. Swimming in cold water and in nature boosts my wellbeing and lifts my confidence.” - Wild Swim for Wellbeing participant, 2025

Our referrals have just opened for 2026 🙌

Although you can self refer, to manage expectations, please note spaces are limited and offered to people with a mental and/or physical health need who live within Bristol.

🔗Find the referral link in our Linktree in our bio

Sign up for referrals with @thenatureconsortia

@nasp_insta
@bnssg

🌳 As part of Social Prescribing Day, we’re highlighting one of the local projects we support through the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Health Inequalities Fund.

Nature Consortium is a collaboration between Open Mind’s Active, ActiveBeing, and Soul Trail.

The collaboration supports women’s mental and physical wellbeing through a range of nature-based interventions by connecting them to activities, groups and further support.

Find out more about some of the other local projects we support via the link in our bio.