Icebreaker DIY
Crisis Icebreaker is a cold water challenge to help end homelessness. This winter, create your own chilly challenge; from a dip a day in your favourite outdoor swimming spot, braving a freezing shower to dunking into an ice-filled paddling pool.
Feeling creative? Inspired? Ready to help end homelessness? The DIY Icebreaker is for you! Do it your own way and set your own rules for a chilly challenge this winter.
This year DIY is free to enter but don't forget to complete the registration form to join our community and receive support throughout! We want to hear about your brrrr-illiant ideas and see snaps of you in action, so get in touch to share your photos and tell us what you have planned.
Your support will provide access to Crisis’ year-round services that can help transform lives and end homelessness for good.
Cold water exposure can have some health benefits but before you take the plunge, it’s important to read the expert advice and guidance on how to take part safely.
Some ideas we love:
January daily dip
Take a dip a day: you can mix it up with the location of your daily swimming spot, the important part is to feel the freeze daily for a given month. Take inspiration from the daily dippers at Gaddings Dam, who use their dips as a vigil and have supported Crisis for 8 years (and counting!). They have been documented in Wild Water film and local news so look out for them!
Sea Lanes, Brighton
We’ve partnered with Sea Lanes situated on the beautiful beachfront in Brighton, East Sussex, Brighton for their ‘Swim for Crisis’ challenge throughout February. It can be hard to stay motivated to swim during winter, so members and new guests are encouraged to get their lengths in every day of the month or take a daily dip and fundraise for Crisis.
Sign up on the Sea Lanes website.
Go the distance
Already a cold-water swimmer? Take the opportunity to set yourself a distance challenge. It doesn't have to be every day or very far, simply set yourself a goal over the month and swim towards it for your very own Icebreaker challenge. For extra motivation, get your swimming group or friends to join in too and have a collective target to swim towards.
Better Together
Do a dip and pass it on! If committing to a daily dip is not possible for you, why not get a group together and take it in turns to complete the month together? Outdoor dip, cold shower or local lido - it's up to you.
Face the freeze at home and do it your way!
Get creative with your plans and we'll send you ideas too - from wheelie bins filled with ice-water, chilly paddling pools or showers turned colder than you dare! The choice is yours but please read the safety tips and ensure your activity is safe and accessible.
Wild Swimming Spots
The Outdoor Swimming Society has a wealth of knowledge on the best spots to take a dip outside, tips for beginners and how to plan your dips. If you’re swimming outdoors, always go in a group and read their blogs for safe swimming before you go.
You can also read our cold water swimming tips from Beyond Swim to prepare for your challenge.
I’m a lido and I want to get involved
I’m part of a swimming group or community group and we want to get involved