Girls Dips: a joyful community

After a big swim event Lowri Jones felt a gap in her swim routine and longed for a group to swim with. When there wasn’t a community she could join, she decided to set up her own. Here she shares more about her story of the growing Girly Dips group

Lowri, what is your swim story?

From a young age I’ve always been a swimmer. It has helped me through some dark times – in 2019 I had to have major knee surgery and it was the only activity I could do; it kept my headspace clear. That’s what led me to going for my first cold water dip in October that year. I wanted to swap the indoor lanes for the open water, and I’ve been hooked ever since. The glowy feeling it gave my body and brain was like no other. Over the last few years, I’ve swam the Henley Mile, Bantham Swoosh and the English Channel as a relay.

What inspired you to start Girly Dips, and how did you identify there was a need for this kind of community?

The idea was born whilst I was struggling with a neck injury post–English Channel. I couldn’t properly swim or train. I’d gone from swimming four to five times a week with my team to one or two dips on my own, and I was finding the change hard. It got me thinking… I didn’t have a community of casual cold-water dippers to tap into, and I had this vision of myself going for a dip and brunch whilst connecting with new, like-minded people in London.

If I’m honest, it hadn’t occurred to me that so many people would want this kind of community, I just knew it was something I personally longed for. When I looked for an all-women’s swim group in London that focused on fun and connection, I realised there was a gap. Outside of the city, people have easier access to wild swims, here it’s mostly lidos and manned ponds, but not everyone feels comfortable going alone. Having a group makes such a difference and gives people more confidence.

Starting Girly Dips has been one of the best things I’ve ever done. It’s become such a safe, special space, and it’s been overwhelming in the best way to see how many people were also looking for this kind of outlet. Seeing others feel good and experience the post-dip high is amazing!

How would you describe the mission and values of Girly Dips, and how do those values play out in your sessions?

Our main mission is to bring women together through the joy of cold water swimming. We’ve created a safe, fun and welcoming space so like-minded people can connect and celebrate their passions, as well as themselves. A big one for us is having fun; joy is part of our wellbeing. We also have an active WhatsApp community where everyone can connect day to day. It’s a lovely way for people to plan other dips and share swimming tips. Living in London can feel quite lonely, so seeing people make genuine friendships through their love of swimming is what it’s all about.

Can you share one or two memorable swims or events?

One memorable swim was our first ever dip in May 2024. Two people turned up, we had a gorgeous swim at Brockwell Lido and a deep, meaningful chat about our love of swimming over brunch. That will always be a core memory, because that’s where it all began. Then in July we hosted our biggest community event so far, ‘Girly Dips Summer Soirée”’ We welcomed over 60 women for an evening of yoga and swimming at Beckenham Place Park Lake. The sun was shining, we had a full house, we partnered with some wonderful brands who gifted goodie bags, and it was the first time I stepped back and thought, “Wow, we’ve got something special here.” Seeing the joy it brought was the best feeling.

What are the biggest challenges when swimming outdoors, and how do you overcome them?

Safety and wellbeing are our number one priority. A lot of people go cold water swimming without really knowing the dos and don’ts, so we always do a safety briefing before each dip and offer extra support to those who are new. Depending on the location, numbers are something we must think about from a logistics and safety perspective. We limit capacity to ensure we’re following venue protocols and maintaining the right lifeguard-to-swimmer ratio. We don’t love having to cap attendees, but we’d rather be safe.

How do you ensure Girly Dips remains inclusive and welcoming for all levels?

Our community is for all women, every woman who feels at home in the water is welcome. We also don’t care about swimming ability, shape, size or background; everyone gets the same warmth, guidance and space to go at their own pace. We host people who have completed Channel swims and others who have never been for a cold dip before. That’s the beauty of Girly Dips: there’s no pressure or ego. I also love that our attendees range from 22 to 65; it’s so special seeing different generations sharing the water together.

What positive impacts have you seen among members?

I was walking through South London recently and saw a group of girls who had met through Girly Dips, having brunch and hanging out. Seeing genuine friendships being formed is the best impact I could hope for. The aim was to create a community where people could meet like-minded women, and we’ve done just that. We receive regular feedback that our dips are welcoming and fun, and that always means a lot. I still can’t quite believe what we’ve built!

Looking ahead, what are your hopes or plans for Girly Dips?

We’ve started partnering with other communities that share similar values, and the group has loved it. It opens opportunities to try new things and connect even further. We recently hosted a community dip at a sauna and cold plunge space and would love to do more. Our dream is to secure a community grant or brand funding so we can run more dips and events and continue to grow while being even more inclusive and accessible – we currently only meet once or twice a month. We want everyone to feel that euphoric, glowy feeling that cold water and community offer.

What advice would you give to someone starting their own outdoor swimming community?

If you have an idea or a feeling, just start. Put the feelers out, use the network you already have and keep going. Our first dip was in May 2024 and it wasn’t until January 2025 that we started gaining traction. A lot of love and energy goes into planning and hosting community events, so be patient and nurture it if you believe in it. If you’d like to follow and support our community, you can find us on Instagram @Girlydips.