Subsequent in our unbiased enterprise profile sequence is Heads Above The Waves, a Cardiff-based non-profit that raises consciousness of melancholy and self-harm in younger individuals. Chloe Jackson-Nott catches up with them.
The place did the concept for Heads Above The Waves come from?
Funnily sufficient, it began with me [Si] having a garbage time in highschool. I actually struggled with my psychological well being, and particularly, was battling self-harm. However enjoying drums grew to become my coping mechanism that helped me get by means of that. So initially, I wished to show everybody to play the drums, so we may “repair” psychological well being. However in fact, that’s not the reply. So I began talking to other people who’d struggled themselves, and increase a little bit of a library of issues which may provide help to hold your head above the waves. We began out as a Tumblr web page and a suitcase with a few t-shirts in. However quickly grew to a bodily store area and a full blown web site. And alongside the best way we began delivering classes in colleges, for individuals to really have a go on the concepts we’re sharing on-line. Which looks like a very nice “full circle” second; turning my ache in highschool into an opportunity to assist make highschool a bit extra manageable for folk at this time.
You’ve had a number of shops round Cardiff through the years however the place can we discover you now?
Proper now, we’re situated in Corp Market, which is the outdated Company pub on Cowbridge Highway East, in Canton, Cardiff.(Corp Market, 188 Cowbridge Highway East, Cardiff, CF5 1GW).
It’s a cool area, the place they’ve taken an enormous outdated constructing and turned it right into a market for a bunch of unbiased merchants. We’re fortunate sufficient to have a unit that faces out onto the road, so that you’ll hopefully see our signage as you’re strolling down Cowbridge Highway East!
There are quite a lot of different distributors at The Corp and this is likely to be a troublesome query, however do you might have another suggestions?
I like The Barber Room! They legit do the most effective haircut I’ve ever had. Plus they’re tremendous pleasant. Tremendous inclusive. Very fairly priced. The one draw back is how rapidly they get booked up!
Do you might have a favorite piece you promote at HATW?
My private favorite piece tends to alter as we carry on doing extra stuff that I like. Proper now, it’s this heavy canvas jacket. It’s thick sufficient to be a heat jacket, however mild sufficient to work properly as a transitional season layer.
However in fact, the actually iconic factor that we promote is a protracted sleeve tee that claims “I’m glad you exist” on the within of the sleeves, so somebody reads that message in the event you’re about to provide them a hug. It’s equal components tacky and cute. And funnily sufficient, I got here up with it after having a psychological breakdown. So feels very on model, contemplating the journey to HATW coming into existence.
We’ve seen you go to colleges to unfold consciousness which is incredible, however are there any workshops others that not attend faculty can get entangled with?
That is really one thing I’m wanting into proper now! At the moment our workshops are solely inside colleges. Which works properly when it comes to assembly individuals the place they’re (in the event that they’re in class!), however leaves a little bit of a spot for individuals not in schooling. So hopefully quickly we’ll start working classes regularly, the place individuals will be capable to self-refer, or get referred into. It’s thrilling; however it’s not fairly able to go simply but! So watch this area
Is there something that the area people can do to assist with HATW?
Actually, it appears like a small factor, however sharing our content material on-line makes an enormous distinction. We’re consistently making & sharing stuff that has the potential to actually assist somebody in the event that they’re struggling. So by sharing our content material, you’re serving to that message attain a wider viewers, which can properly embrace somebody who actually wants to listen to that message at this time. So subsequent time we pop up in your social feeds, please do give it a share!
And naturally, in the event you’re in Canton, please swing by the store, decide up a few of our merch, and have a chat with us!
HATW – web site
HATW – Instagram
HATW – Fb
