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The Blossome Big Dip 2026 Fundraiser

Name: The Blossome Big Dip 2026 Fundraiser
Start: 2026-01-01T10:30:00+00:00
End: 2026-01-01T12:30:00+00:00
Location: Red Beach Hut, Walton-on-the-Naze

January 1 @ 10:30 am - 12:30 pm

£20

Start the new year with a Big Dip – on New Year’s Day

Start the new year in an unforgettable way. You can do it! Feel the clarity that comes from a clear head, burst of energy and a renewed sense of confidence to make the new year a great one. Take part in a cold water dip on 01 January 2026, and raise money for Blossome CIC. All proceeds help fund self-care activities and programmes for families affected by someone else’s drinking, drug use, gamblking or any addiction.

A cold water dip is celebrated as a great way to start the New Year. Awaken your whole body, mind and soul with a cold water dip in the sea at Walton On-the-Naze, Essex. Join us for a mid morning sunrise dip followed by hot drinks and a full cooked pancake and maple syrup breakfast at a beach hut. Relax into the new year and take home a certificate for taking part. This is an experience for the memory books and the best way to start the new year. Your event ticket provides you with:

Use of a flotation device that you can borrow (limited supply)
Use of thermal socks and gloves (limited supply)
Bottomless hot beverages
Delicious hot pancake and maple syrup breakfast

We’d love it if you would fundraise for us, but this is optional. If you raise £100 you will receive a fabulous t-shirt. All money raised will go towards self-care programmes for families affected by addiction.

Why Take part?

Cold water swimming offers so many mood-boosting benefits. It’s amazing for your mental health. We can get so caught up in the busyness of our lives or caught up in the blows that life has dealt us that we forget to take care of ourselves. This dip will help you take time for yourself, do something different for New Year’s Day, and start the new year with a remarkable experience. No matter what is happening in your life, use this time for you.

Connect with your heart and others
Feel joy in the moment
Smile and laugh out loud
Enjoy a short mindfulness practice
Feel the cold water rejuvenate your body, mind and soul
Start the New Year watching the sunrise and feeling your whole body, mind and soul bursting with energy

Cold-water dipping is part of the Blossome Self-Care programme. We organise dips every month of the year because they help people so much. The benefits of cold water swimming are well documented. You can read more about how cold water swimming helps mental wellness in this article.

The Big Dip takes place mid-morning on New Year’s Day. We ask participants to arrive at 10.30 am to sign in and collect their flotation device for the event. Toes in the water at 11.30am. Breakfast will follow.

Toes in the water at 11.30am.

We will enjoy a cold water dip in the sea just by the beach hut. We only stay in for 2-10 minutes, depending on the water temperature and how acclimatised you are to the cold . You can just dip your toes in or watch. No pressure. Just being there is fun and helps you feel alive just taking in the sunrise.

The Big Dip is suited to everyone, especially those who want to make a positive start to the New Year. It’s about taking in the moment, not being an experienced swimmer. I just float! You can also just take part and learn more about the practice. You might just get hooked.

After our dip, we will retreat to a beach hut, a cosy base to come back to, ready with hot drinks, and a delicious pancake breakfast to refuel our bodies after the dip. Sit, relax and enjoy a wonderful view.

We serve delicious, warm Canadian pancakes with maple syrup, hot fruit compote, bacon, orange juice, tea, coffee and hot chocolate.

We do our best to cater to all dietary requirements and offer oat milk and gluten free pancakes. Please let us know your dietary requirements and food allergies at the time of booking.

We recommend use of a flotation device and thermal gloves and socks. There might be some which you can borrow, but a limited supply. Please let us know on your booking form if you would like to borrow some.

Wetsuits are recommended between November – April as temperatures drop. We do not have a supply of suits to borrow (not yet) – but many people will just be in their swimsuits so a wet suit is not a requirement.

Please Donate

Help us raise much needed funding for Blossome with all proceeds going towards running programmes for all affected by someone else’s drinking, drug use, gambling or any addiction.

Please Donate