Woman faces council fees for free beach yoga, sparking debate on access.
Her classes are free, with people donating to cover costs if they want. This way, everyone can join, even those with little money. Many people can do yoga thanks to her, who might not be able to afford it otherwise. Over time, a nice community grew, with about 30 to 50 people attending each session. Sometimes, as many as 200 people show up. She appeared on a BBC show called Wynne and Joanna All At Sea.
After the show, the council contacted Helen and told her about the new fee per session. She feels the council is targeting her and questions their right to charge her. The fee goes against the council’s goals of easy access to sports in Swansea. She said the council knew about her class.
She provides risk assessments when asked and runs the classes on a donation basis, making them accessible to everyone. People can pay whatever they can afford. Yoga classes in Swansea cost around £9 or £10. At her class, people donate anonymously.
Some donate nothing at all, and many can’t afford other yoga classes. The beach is a beautiful, natural place. The £24 fee could stop her donation-based class. If only a few people came, she’d lose money and needs to cover her fuel costs. She has even donated to a charity in the past.
She invested lots of time to build this community, which offers health and wellbeing to many people. Some attendees come from homeless shelters. She says the open space creates safety. The council asked if she uses their facilities, but she doesn’t require any. Class members even clean up the beach beforehand, removing glass along with other trash.
Helen says the council gave no proper fee explanation, and she isn’t trying to cause trouble, but charging this way isn’t acceptable. Some people say the class saved their lives. She believes it helps the city and thinks it is Europe’s largest outdoor yoga class, gaining positive publicity for Swansea.. She questions why the fee exists, and asks how the council will police it.
She wonders if other groups will get charged too and what the fee actually covers remains questionable. She says the fee hurts three health policies: the Swansea Council wellbeing plan and Welsh Government strategies that promote active living for everyone. This policy may have been rushed, and many people are sending her messages of support.
She asks the council to reconsider this charge, as it impacts a donation-based yoga class that helps many people a lot, and the email caused her stress and upset. A woman named Claire has attended for nine years now. She started yoga this way and is now training to be a yoga teacher. The beach made it less scary to start.
She looks forward to it each year, as people from all backgrounds can be part of it. Some can’t afford other options, and the beach group has a wonderful community spirit. Charlie started classes before the pandemic. She has two kids, making it hard to find time for herself.
The beach classes are a good option for her, allowing her to bring her children along. She doesn’t understand how the council will regulate the charge, as they don’t use the beach for business gains; the class is free and voluntary. These classes support mental health, and this experience is unique for everyone.
A council spokesman said they charge businesses to help with beach cleaning costs. Most businesses are happy to pay, and they don’t charge non-profit activities. They encourage using beaches to promote health. They are discussing it with the class organizer to know if it’s a free service. There will be no charge if the service remains free.