Paddle out for Palestine

What’s Happening

We’re gathering the South’s watersports community for a Paddle Out for Palestine. A simple act of solidarity inspired by a traditional Hawaiian-style paddle-out, where participants join together on the water to form a circle and share a collective moment of unity.

This event is about connection, with each other, with the ocean, and with those enduring unimaginable hardship in Palestine and in Gaza.

When & Where

📅 Sunday 9 November 2025

🕙 Meet on the beach for 10:00 AM

📍 Kite Beach, Banks Road, Sandbanks, Dorset UK

🎁 Donation: £5.00

🏄 All genders and paddle craft welcome

Meeting by Flow Water Sports, opposite Tesco Express!

Please keep an eye out for updates in case of weather changes.

Why We’re Doing This

Across Palestine, and in Gaza especially day to day life has been reduced to survival. Families displaced, water systems destroyed, and the basic humanity that connects us all under threat. In the Gaza Strip, only around 1 in 10 people can access safe drinking water.

Children in Gaza are often forced to use just 1.5 to 2 litres of water a day. A fraction of the minimum needed even to stay alive.

For those of us whose lives revolve around water, surfing, kiting, paddling or foiling - water is more than a resource: it is freedom, connection, hope. And so this paddle-out is that little something we can do. A gesture of solidarity, a wave sent across time to say we see you. We care. We share this sea.

And yes, we’ll raise money. But even more, we’ll send a message: your water matters. Your survival matters. In the midst of helplessness, this is our act of hope.
Charities & Donations

💷 Minimum donation £5 (you’re welcome to give more if you wish)

*Nobody will be turned away due to lack of funds!*

All funds collected from both the paddle-out and the fundraiser will be shared between the following Palestinian-led organisations:

Watermelon Sisters

A women-led initiative founded in July 2024, Watermelon Sisters is committed to providing immediate relief and long-term support to children, women and families in Gaza and Palestine.

Key work includes:

• Distributing hundreds of thousands of litres of clean water, thousands of meals, hygiene kits, school supplies and mental health support.
• Operating with over 99% of donations directed straight into programmes.
• Being Palestinian-led and volunteer-run, emphasising dignity and humanity in their aid model.

Gaza Sunbirds

Founded around 2020 in the Gaza Strip, Gaza Sunbirds began as a para-cycling team for athletes injured in the conflict, and has evolved into a dual mission of sport and humanitarian support.

Highlights of their work:

• Giving mobility, hope and representation to amputee and disabled athletes in Gaza — those who might otherwise be excluded.
• During conflict, pivoting to provide food aid, shelter and relief to displaced communities in Gaza, while still maintaining their athletic identity.
• Representing Palestine on the world stage in para-cycling competitions, signalling resilience and ambition in even the most challenging circumstances.

Boards & Equipment

Bring your own boards if you have them, but if you don’t, or you can’t get them to the beach, there will be at least 25 SUP’s available, generously provided by The Water Sports Academy and EasyRiders.

Otherwise there’s no formal sign-in, just meet on the beach for 10 AM and get ready to paddle out together.

Youngsters are welcome, but must use their own equipment and be accompanied in the water by an adult. No SUP’s will be provided to under 18’s.

Contact / Volunteers

If you’d like to volunteer, lend boards, or help on the day, please reach out via [email protected] or [email protected] or both

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