Night dip at waterfall raises money for homeless

A group of hardy swimmers has taken part in a night time dip in the waters of a beauty spot in North Yorkshire to raise money for charity.

Participants getting into their swimming costumes at Janet‘s Foss, a waterfall and plunge pool near Malham, have been taking a dip every day in January, whatever the weather, in aid of the homelessness charity Crisis.

The January Daily Dip has seen some people climbing into barrels in their own back gardens, while others have swum in groups in rivers and reservoirs.

After her swim under the waterfall, Linda Middleton, from Skipton, said "That was amazing. I feel alive. It‘s a magical place."

Janet’s Foss is a waterfall and plunge pool near the village of Malham in the Yorkshire Dales.

According to folklore, a cave behind the waterfall is home to Janet, Queen of the Fairies.

Members of the January Daily Dip at Janet's Foss had travelled to the waterfall from across the north of England, including Sarah Rowden who came from Chester.

She said that as part of the challenge, she usually immersed herself in water in an old whisky barrel in her garden, but also enjoyed getting together with other members of the community.

"It is an amazing experience once you are in there," she explained.

“Yes, it is fun, but we also have to remember why we are here: we are trying to raise awareness and raise some money for Crisis."

The first January Daily Dip took place nine years ago, and since then the group has raised at least £160,000 for the charity.

Long-term member Louise Studd said: “Homelessness can come about as a result of the end of a relationship, the loss of a job, temporary employment. It can happen to anybody.

“It is not just the people you see sleeping on the streets. It is those in temporary accommodation, sleeping in cars, sofa surfing and in bed and breakfast and it is really tough.”

Louise said there were some days where it was tougher to climb into cold water - like earlier this month when they had to break ice to get into the water.

Outdoor swimming can, of course, be a dangerous activity, with risks like hidden obstacles under the surface and cold water shock - which is the body‘s sudden, uncontrollable reaction to cold water causing rapid breathing, panic and loss of control.

This can lead to drowning.

The dippers taking part in the Janet‘s Foss swim said they had been acclimatising their bodies to cold water because they started swimming in the summer and continued regularly through to the coldest months.

They also emphasised they did not swim alone and did not stay in cold water for too long.

Stuart Gledhill, from Malham, who has been outdoor swimming for many years, said: “On a night like this, it's lovely. It is a nice dry night, it is fairly still, but when it is sideways rain, you really do need motivation.

“But then you start thinking about why you are doing it. You think about the people you are doing it for that are stuck out there in the weather all the time and that gives you an impetus to get going and do it.”

Meanwhile, Linda said she had first started cold water swimming four years ago.

“With the cold winter weeks we have had recently, Crisis and other charities provide emergency shelter and food and they also help people get back into accommodation and hopefully find a job," she explained.

“A lot of people that have passed us in the water have been giving us money, so that really spurs you on.

“It is quite hard to fit the dips in around work, but I am going to keep on doing this as long as I can. I love it.”

Andy Taylor-Whyte, from Crisis, said: "More than 300,000 families and individuals across Britain are experiencing the worst forms of homelessness.

“This includes people being forced to spend night after night on the streets, in the freezing cold, and families stuck in mouldy temporary accommodation which is not fit for purpose. This isn't right and everyone deserves somewhere safe to call their home.

"The money being raised by the Daily Dippers will help us to get people into housing which is not only safe but secure, so they do not have to live their lives in limbo.

“It will also help people access vital education and healthcare, so they can rebuild their lives for good."

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