Hello, I’m Milly. I’ve been Daily Dipping for the past 198 days ( I started my journey on 1st September 2024) Mostly in Swanage Bay, with the occasional dip over the water in Bournemouth and even adventuring to West Reservoir in London and Six Hills in Lecistershire whilst visiting family.

I started this journey of daily dipping purely for myself, at the start of the year I found myself experiencing a seasonal depression that made me unable to leave the house, until I decided enough was enough. I realised I needed something to force me out of my comfort zone, something that would get me out of the house. So my Daily Dipping journey was born.

Yes, certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, but getting in the sea everyday has given me such a welcome routine to start my day. As an autistic person, it has given me a massive sense of relief, not only because it's boosted my confidence with being around people, but has also helped me realise that if I can do this then I can do anything that the day throws at me.

I was expecting the challenge to be hard and if I am completely honest there have been days where even thinking about getting in a chilly sea or lake really didn’t feel worth it. But I have never ONCE regretted it. Each daily dip that I ticked off gave me such a sense of achievement, and the incredible encounters I've had through jumping in cold water has made the last 7 months memorable in all the right ways!

The journey has given me so much joy that I now want to be able to give back to the community that have given so much to my son and I. For this next season of Daily Dips I am going to fundraise for a charity that is very dear to my heart: Allsort’d.

Allsort’d provide bespoke learning support for young adults 16+ with learning disabilities and associated difficulties within their own communities. My son and I attend their evening sign-along choir that has provided us a space in which we can completely be ourselves and we look forward gathering with our community there every week.

From the bottom of my heart thank you to anyone that has been behind the scenes and so on board with making sure I do dip each day. Your support and encouragement has been invaluable. Especially to my wonderful family that have been so adaptive to this new routine.

I am aiming to get to the start of British Summer Time, 30th March 2025. Who knows after that.

Happy Dipping!

Milly

https://www.allsortd.org