Make Waves Swim School was founded by Heather Matthews in 2013 when her unique approach to teaching children to swim with huge amounts of love and respect became impossible for local families to resist. That enthusiasm and passion for teaching swimming from infancy with love, care and respect became the cornerstone for the Make Waves approach.

Make Waves started using Town Mills (then Orford Mill) pool Torrington and we still run lessons there to support the local community. The pool is crystal clear and warm and combined with Heather’s amazing lessons, Make Waves grew. Jac Matthews joined and additional pools were sought as Make Waves became locally recognised for wonderful swimming lessons. Heather’s dream was to one day build her own pool and she constantly researched to make it happen!

Meanwhile, Tina Haigh was managing the largest swim school in Western Australia dreaming of one day running her very own swim school. She emigrated to England and met Heather in late 2019. When the saw each other teach with matching passion, skill and love, the relationship was set and they soon discovered their matching dreams. 

When Heather, Jac and Tina joined together, Make Waves soon outgrew it’s humble beginnings and the very first Make Waves swimming pool was built!

Ever expanding, Make Waves has grown to further support children in North Devon, and now encompasses swimming lessons, soft play centre and cafe, alongside purpose-built new childcare facilities.

Who knows where the dream will lead next!