TNSC x Dick Pearce & Friends
Did you know that every year, an estimated 16,000 low-cost and poor-quality bodyboards end up as beach debris in the UK? These seemingly convenient but harmful single-use items, crafted from plastics, foam, and polystyrene, prompted us to want to take action for our local North Coast beaches while also providing some stoke for our local community.
Following a triumphant fundraising event in September 2023, we’ve partnered with Dick Pearce & Friends, and have been able to purchase ten high-quality TNSC wooden Belly Boards and bring the transformative Surf Wood for Good (SWFG) campaign to the North East!
The SWFG campaign, promoting both TNSC and Dick Pearce’s commitment to sustainable surf culture, not only aims to combat plastic waste on our shores but also promotes accessibility to the joy of wave riding. We’ve set the stage to provide FREE bellyboard hires this summer, making this thrilling experience available to all and hopefully reduce the amount of single-use plastic beach toys.
You can learn more about Dick Pearce’s dedication to sustainable surf culture and the Surf Wood for Good initiative on their website. 
The SWFG map highlights a significant gap for this project in the North East. Drawing on the ease and ultimate stoke from a few TNSC riders with wooden belly boards in their own personal quiver, we’re eager to share the transformative power of wave riding with our community. When belly boarding: it is always overhead.
Our target? Everyone! From day-trippers who might typically opt for single-use plastic beach toys to our local community members, we want to encourage ‘sharing the stoke’ and breaking down barriers to surf culture, ensuring it’s an inclusive experience for all.
To inaugurate this exciting campaign, we hosted our first ‘Fun Fringe Surf’ (FFS) event on January 14th with our new boards. Trayboards, handplanes, wompas and we’ll even accept the odd foamie to wash away the January Blues. We believe that taking to the water, sharing a slide with friends, and experiencing the thrill of surfing can undeniably bring a smile to your face!
TNSC Surf Wood for Good Project Plan and Progress
As TNSC do not yet have a clubhouse or venue to operate from, next steps are to work with local businesses and North Tyneside Council with implementing the Surf Wood for Good campaign to offer free hire to the wider community and day visitors in the summer, as well as host more community-inclusive fringe surf events. See separate project pages on our Venue Proposal and Community-inclusive events (pages may only be accessible for members only so if you are a local business or partner and want to help or have more detail, just drop us a message).
- Fundraise (Click here to Donate and support this project!)
- Purchase discounted stock of personalised boards via Dick Pearce & Friends
- Launch Fringe Surf event with TNSC members
- Logistics on free hire for wider community via local businesses/NTC in absence of TNSC venue
- Expand to more North East Beaches and more Community-inclusive fringe surf events.