Vivobarefoot x Level Water
Clear waters at Bantham, spiritual home of Vivobarefoot
“Access to Nature, For Everyone”: Why Vivobarefoot and Level Water are walking (and swimming) the same path
This partnership started, quite simply, with a shared love for Bantham.
For both Vivobarefoot and Level Water, Bantham isn’t just a beautiful place - it’s a part of who we are. It’s where childhood memories were made, where people find challenge and peace, where wildness and joy live side by side.
“We grew up here,” says Vivobarefoot co-founder Galahad Clark. “Running barefoot through the dunes, swimming in the estuary. I watched the Bantham Swoosh happen for years. But it wasn’t until I found out what was behind it more recently - Level Water’s work - that I truly understood what it stood for.”
That moment sparked something special: two organisations connected by a love of movement, nature, and doing good - coming together in the place that inspires it all.
“Vivobarefoot is all about reconnecting people to nature,” Galahad says. “And Level Water is doing that in such a powerful way - helping children access the water, rebuild confidence, and find freedom through swimming. It was a perfect fit.”
Swimming as Reconnection
At Level Water, we provide 1-to-1 swimming lessons for children with disabilities - many of whom haven’t been able to access sports or movement in traditional ways. Through the water, they build not just physical skills, but a sense of freedom and joy.
“For some of the kids we work with,” says Ian from Level Water, “it’s the first time they feel truly at home in their bodies. It’s playful. It’s empowering. And thanks to Vivobarefoot’s support, we’re not just helping them learn - we’re bringing some of them here to Bantham, where they get to experience what this swim is all about.”
“Imagine finishing a river swim and coming onto the beach at the same time as hundreds of fundraisers who made your lessons possible,” Ian adds. “It’s powerful. It’s emotional. And it’s all part of that shared movement towards connection - to nature, to others, to yourself.”
Bold, Joyful, Outdoors Together
The synergy between Level Water and Vivobarefoot is more than just shared values on paper - it comes to life in everything. From the Bell Tent Village that Vivobarefoot gifted to our fundraisers, to barefoot runners crossing the dunes, to our shared belief that adventure and access should go hand in hand.
“Your values - bold and joyful - really speak to us,” Galahad says. “It’s that magic of being outdoors, with others, doing something beautiful and a little bit wild. That’s how we reconnect.”
And that joy extends into the water too - whether it’s dolphins swimming alongside us in the water today, or children in our lessons discovering what their bodies are capable of for the first time.
“Water’s been a huge part of our family’s relationship with nature,” Galahad adds. “So to support others in finding that same connection - it just makes sense.”
Real Impact, Lasting Legacy
Because of partnerships like these, Level Water is now supporting swimming lessons for children with Autism - a direct, tangible impact that’s already changing lives. And for Vivobarefoot, the impact is also about story-sharing and awareness.
“Our community didn’t know much about Level Water until recently,” Galahad says. “But now they do - and they’re inspired. Especially people working in accessibility and movement. They’ve told us this partnership is an example of what accessibility in nature should look like.”
“It’s the combination of our two missions - access and nature. Accessibility to nature.”
“And,” Ian adds, “it’s about elevating this whole experience. Over time, people will come to see that swimming with Level Water at Bantham isn’t just a good time - it’s one of the best experiences you can have.”
