News and Articles

The Great British Skinny Dip 2012

The Great British Skinny Dip 2012

The second annual Great British Skinny Dip organised by British Naturism, the UK’s national naturist organisation, takes place this weekend, Friday 13 – Sunday 15 July.
Venues include naturist clubs, holiday resorts, municipal pools, and two “wild” locations. You can skinny dip in Cambridgeshire, County Durham, Cumbria, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Lancashire and Oxfordshire.
It often surprises people to learn just how many Naturist locations there are in the UK and just how popular it is. A survey commissioned by BN in the autumn of 2011 and carried out by IPSOS MORI shows that there are 3.7 million naturists in the UK.
British Naturism's Commercial Manager, Andrew Welch said:
“Things are really changing in the culture and attitudes of the previously “buttoned-up” British population, with many more people realising the benefits of going without clothes. And we’ve not become a nation of exhibitionists – people do it for the feeling they get from the sun and breeze on their skin, and water around their whole body – plus the fantastic community sprit there is amongst people who have discovered such a wonderfully relaxing way to spend time. Naturism promotes positive body image and is good for your health, emotionally, physically and mentally. Go on, you have nothing to lose but your clothes!
- ENDS -
Contacts:
BN Commercial Manager
Andrew Welch 01753 481527
07774 955138
commercial.manager@bn.org.uk
Notes for Editors
British Naturism (BN) is the UK’s officially recognised naturist organisation. It exists to support and unite naturists around the UK and will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2014, although its predecessors were in existence since the 1930s.
Amongst the aims of BN are to campaign for more places to be made available for naturism and to protect naturists against discrimination and Victorian attitudes to the human body.
Fact – in law, there is no offence of nudity. Various pieces of legislation and common law are often mentioned in connection with naturism but they are not relevant.
In the UK, there are over 130 sun clubs, swim clubs and holiday resorts and many beaches used regularly by naturists. Membership of BN is around 10,500 people with many more being members of clubs affiliated to BN.
YBN (Young British Naturists) has a membership of young men and women between the ages of 18 and 30 who get together at clubs and beaches many weekends. They represent the UK at the International Naturist Federation (INF) Youth Rally held annually
Naturism is good for you! Naturists report improvements in well-being, stress, chronic illness, self-esteem and body image. It’s also a sensible choice of dress when the weather is warm. Naturists are normal people. The only difference between activities inside and outside of naturism is the dress code.
It is a fallacy to believe that naked children are any more at risk in a naturist environment. Unaccompanied children are not permitted in naturist places and the community spirit that pervades ensures that a watchful eye is present. Despite the perception, there are far fewer problems in naturism than in more “public” places where children and adults mix. Mindful of the need to be aware of child safeguarding issues, however, BN have a robust child safeguarding policy, code of practice, and a Child Safeguarding sub-committee that meets regularly and runs workshops on the subject, sometimes to groups from outside the naturist world.
For the media, there is a dedicated “Media Centre” at https://www.bn.org.uk/media, which contains useful information for those wishing to write about naturism or to feature this wonderful world in their publications or programmes

The Skin You're In

The Skin You're In

A short video by Emma Sullivan of Brighton University, featuring BN Youth Officer Daryl Jones, which looks closer at what the attraction of naturism is today.

Clover Spa and Hotel raise their profile

Clover Spa and Hotel raise their profile

Channel 5’s The Hotel Inspector opens a new series by paying a visit to Clover Spa, the fully-naturist spa and hotel based in Erdington, near Birmingham.
The spa, which opened in late 2010, has become very popular with Naturists in the Midlands and far beyond, with visitors travelling from all over the country for day and weekend visits.
The film features BN members who attended a garden party to mark the end of filming, including current BN magazine cover star Rachel Wieck, giving a classical music recital in Clover’s newly-redesigned garden,
The programme goes out at 9pm on Thursday July 5 on Channel 5
If you like what you learn about naturism, then come and join BN; you have nothing to lose but your clothes - and everything to gain: membership information and online joining details.
Find Out More
What is Naturism Young British Naturists Big Days Out or get in touch with with us either at headoffice@bn.org.uk or on 01604 620361

Posed or poised?

Posed or poised?

We try so hard to publicise naturism, but it is often a difficult topic to illustrate! Not only are some of us hesitant to have photos taken, but we always have to be aware of how much of the body we actually show when portraying naturists. Though we might take nudity for granted, we have to remember that not everyone is ready for such complete acceptance of the human form, so we have to tailor the photo to suit the particular audience we are dealing with.
Or do we? Should we simply declare that nudity is normal and take the stance that we shall prove it by sharing our nakedness with the public – be it on television, in newspapers or via any advertising opportunity we can access? Should we almost force it upon an unprepared public and say, “This is us, accept it!”
I would love to give you a most definite ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to this question, but I am not sure I can. When I was asked to appear on a Vanessa Feltz television programme discussing naturism, the first thing I asked was whether they expected me to be naked and, of course, they thought I was offering and almost bit my hand off, saying, “Yes please!” But I followed my own question with a statement, “I do not undress to be looked at, but to feel good so, no, I will not be naked in your studio. However, if you wish to come and film at Blackthorns, then I will strip and feel comfortable doing so.” (That last bit might have been a bit of a fib!)
I was then constantly referred to as the “prudish naturist”, which I thought was ridiculous! Their reaction convinced me that they, like many other producers of television programmes, just wanted some sensational nudity to increase their ratings, but I wasn’t going to be providing a cheap thrill, and I do mean cheap as they weren’t offering any payment!
When I invited a local newspaper’s reporter and photographer to Blackthorns to run a piece on club life and prove that a certain national newspaper had got it all wrong with their article stating that naturists were pensioners who sat around in deckchairs knitting or dozing, I had to prove that naturism was perfectly acceptable by conducting the interview in the flesh – quite literally! Having spent half an hour telling them how comfortable we are with our bodies, and the fact that it is all about body acceptance rather than body beautiful, we could hardly refuse when the photographer asked to take photos of my husband and me.
Believe me, we tried! We offered them some lovely ones we had previously taken of another couple, but no, they wanted their own proof that we meant what we had said, so there we were, strolling through the trees with a camera following close behind! So do think before you speak!
When we produced publicity leaflets for our club, we put together one which had a nice woodland scene on the front and a distance shot on the back, giving little notion of actual nudity. The photos inside include a close-up and it is obvious that the people are naked but, to save any possible embarrassment, their genitals are discreetly out of sight. You might think this is wrong, but we would rather censor the pictures a little so that they are viewed comfortably than be viewed and thrown in the bin.
It is similar with our website. Although our front page carries a warning of possible nudity, we still only post a hint of nudity with few full-frontal shots that could possibly embarrass or attract the “wrong” audience. Again, you might disagree, but I would argue that we undress to feel good, not to be looked at, so we don’t need detailed pictures of us doing so. People understand what nudity means and they’ll see plenty of it if they choose to join the club.
Mind you, others seem not to understand nudity at all. How many times have you heard a film company, television programme, newspaper or magazine brag that they are going to include full nudity: “Ooh! Naked people! Shock horror! Excitement!” And what do we get? Partially clothed people or nudity with arms across breasts and covered genitals.
I often wonder how they make these statements and seemingly don’t understand the meaning of the terminology they use? But it obviously draws in the viewers – that is their intent and although there are plenty of people complaining that there is too much nudity, you rarely get people openly criticising them for not having enough.
Personally, I think that if a storyline calls for nudity, then it is better to include it in a straightforward way than an uncomfortable cover-up that makes it look silly. For example, a couple having spent a night of passion together then get out of bed dressed or with the duvet wrapped around themselves to protect their modesty! So I am not a prude after all!
What do you think of H&E magazine, which is available to non-naturists? A long-standing problem is that it can be very off-putting for ladies faced with pages of attractive, young, slim, shapely women with big smiles and “perfect” proportions!
Whilst I don’t want to get drawn into the long-running debate over whether these models are naturists because they have removed their clothes or whether they are naked models, there is always the worry that they deter the more ‘average’ woman from attending a naturist venue for fear of comparison.
It is fine for us seasoned naturists who know it is all about body-confidence rather than body-beautiful, but novices need to gain that confidence in the first place. They may look at these magazines and think we are all perfect specimens and will not dare to join us. Oh, how wrong they would be! I have always told men with reluctant partners to leave H&E until later and show them the genuine members’ photos found in BN magazine, so that they see we are indeed all ages, shapes and sizes, that there is no competition and that they will fit in.
But now, to find a place on the shelves of a major high street newsagents, H&E have run a few editions without any full-frontal photos. When I first noticed what they had done, I have to admit I was quite pleased, although it did seem a little strange to see so many backsides! Whilst many photographs were very carefully taken and look very natural, there are some that look censored, and I began to feel they were giving the completely opposite impression. The whole concept of naturism is the acceptance of the human form without embarrassment or shame, so a cover-up is wrong. I was, therefore, pleased when they declared if other publications were getting away with featuring breasts and nipples, then they would too! They said their new restrictions were to encourage the “right kind” of customer and convince the shop that it has a rightful place on the lower shelves, rather than with top-shelf publications.
But are we holding ourselves to ransom? Would another shop agree to sell naturist material as long as there were no bums, then another demand no naked bodies at all? Would we, should we, pander to their demands? After all, the very meaning of the word naturism in my dictionary is “communal nudity or nudity practised openly, sometimes in the belief that it encourages self-respect, respect for others and a feeling of being in harmony with nature.”
We are not like the many varied industries that use naked bodies just to get noticed! We are using nudity to sell nudity, plain and simple. I like photos that depict nudity without being obvious; by that, I mean none of those shots of men who stand, legs apart, hands on hips as if to say: “Look at me, look what I’ve got!” Is it truly a natural pose for men, or is it as false as I feel it is? Maybe I am wrong and the expression “If you’ve got it, flaunt it!” is acceptable?
Neither do I favour naked females in falselooking poses; sometimes, a little erotically and supposedly in the name of art. They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder and maybe sexual connotations are too. Perhaps what I see as a sexual pose is all in my mind and to someone else, it’s an innocent artistic shot and a thing of beauty. I even wonder if it is my subconscious jealous thoughts as a female that make me see these pictures as unsuitable, as I am sure male readers do not complain about their existence.
I’m always defending naturism as a nonsexual nudity, but by printing provocative poses, we could be attracting people who are convinced we are using the guise of a naturist club to fulfil our sexual interests. There are still many who cannot differentiate nudity from sexual connotations, and I feel so protective towards the much-improved reputation of naturists that I just don’t want anything to spoil it and undo the progress we have made.
So what photos would I be happy with? Any taken in the same way you would do when clothed: happy holiday snaps, of sunny days and momentous events – not of people who look like they have quickly stripped off and posed, before hastily dressing again before they are spotted. Take photos of people and things as they happen; with them feeling comfortable with their bodies. The more natural they look, the more acceptable they become to others. But is total and full-frontal nudity necessary to promote naturism? We all have the right to decide whether we wish to share our nudity with the public, so it should never be forced and you should never feel guilty if you prefer to remain private. Should we have natural naturists or provocative poses? Let me know what you think.

YBN's Easter Weekend at Diogenes

YBN's Easter Weekend at Diogenes

We had all the usual fun and games putting the tents up and it was soon very clear who were the ‘seasoned’ tent-users and who was pretty useless.
We must thank Jay without whom our GS rep would have been sleeping under a pile of canvas and poles – and no, Daryl; No matter how hard you try, a king-size airbed does not fit in a two-man tent....
From the moment that we arrived we were made to feel so welcome by the members of Diogenes and especially our brilliant organisers, Steve and ‘the Andys’. As always, it was lovely to welcome new faces into our happy little family, as well as catching up with all of the older ones. As we moved into Saturday, Emma J was a welcome addition to our group and certainly deserves to be made an honorary YBNer.
Emma provided treatments to our YBN clan which were extremely well-received, as we were all feeling a little ‘delicate’ come Saturday morning! We have come to the conclusion, though, that Emma is not a ‘normal’ lady; she is a mythical being in disguise and she emanates magic from her fingertips!
Saturday saw lots of fun and games; Diogenes kindly let us take over their swimming pool and volleyball court and we also saw our first YBN AGM, which was a fun experience, to say the least. As we moved into Saturday evening, we were greeted by the most wonderful smells coming from the kitchen (thanks, Crawfords!) for our ‘curry-oke’ evening. We had a bit of a ‘mixed bag’ of themes for the evening, with everything from elegant Bollywood to giant YBN babies or simply nothing at all.
We enjoyed the delicious food and quickly moved on to the karaoke. Again, it was very clear who could sing, who couldn’t and who should probably have their vocal chords removed. As always, we were also entertained by Daryl’s legendary dancing as we partied into the wee hours.
Saturday was rounded off with the appearance of the giant YBN cheese board; the size of a small aircraft, it carried enough cheese to keep the whole of BN in their recommended daily intake of dairy products for at least a month!!
Sunday saw us learning the art of Miniten from some of the brilliant Diogenes members. It also saw a number of our YBNers joining Diogenes and becoming a part of their wonderful family.
All that is left to say is a massive thank you to Diogenes and everyone there that worked so hard to make this event a success for us. We had so much fun and we can’t wait to come back!

British Naturism Magazine - BN192 Summer 2012

British Naturism Magazine - BN192 Summer 2012

The summer 2012 magazine (BN 192) continues to reflect the positive mood around British Naturism these days.
We look back on three hugely successful events; the BN Blackpool weekend, our Members’ Holiday to El Portus and the first BN National Convention.
Commercial manager Andrew Welch assesses the state of the BN nation and reports on the progress made on many fronts in recent months, while Malcolm Boura writes what he describes as ‘probably the most optimistic of my articles in a long time.’
Meanwhile, Roni Fine looks at the difficult question of how we can promote naturism through photography without being too much ‘in your face’ and we hear about the delights of naked yoga. Have you tried it? If not, we meet someone who can show you how - and one of her satisfied customers.
Our travel section looks at the United Kingdom and Southern Europe, with a series of reports from some of the best naturist venues in Greece.
All this and a positively bulging section of reports from our clubs, What's On listings, swim and sauna details and much more, including details of all this summer’s BN Big Days Out - with some new and exciting events.
Don't forget that the magazine and recent past issues are also available for BN members to download in the members' area.

Return To Eden

Return To Eden

British Naturism (BN) are delighted to announce that as part of Nudefest, their big summer event, they are hosting a Naturist evening at the Eden Project. It is not a “first” as 600 people visited - as nature intended - in 2007. It was in fact was the starting point for Nudefest, an event that has run each summer since and grown to a full week with hundreds of people attending from all across the UK.
BN’s Commercial Manager, Andrew Welch, said
“This is yet another brilliant opportunity for Naturists (and those who are Naturist-curious) to enjoy the freedom of being without clothes in a high-profile, well-known venue. Anyone who has visited on a non-naturist day and spent time in the tropical biome will know that it can get pretty hot and may appreciate the chance to wander around without their clothes.
“We’ll also be revisiting Newquay Zoo, Newquay's Blue Reef Aquarium and Adrenalin Quarry at Menheniot, plus a new trip to Skinner's Brewery, Truro during Nudefest which is held at Newperran Holiday Park (www.newperran.co.uk) The days and nights at the park will be packed with activities and entertainment.
“It’s turning into a landmark year for BN. We have hundreds of new members, an expanded event schedule, a more dynamic and active youth group, a new website, a successful first National Convention, progress with our Three Year Plan, our new Central London swim, and The Great British Skinny Dip to pick out a few. A MORI-IPSOS survey we commissioned in late 2011 shows that there are nearly 4 million Naturists in the UK. Mainstream? I think so! See The State of the Nation article for all the great things happening.
Return to Eden takes place on Sunday 10 June 2012 from 7.00pm – 11.30pm. Tickets must be purchased in advance. All the details, including how to book tickets for Eden can be found at www.nudefest.co.uk.
Media attendance at Nudefest, the Eden Project and other events is welcomed. Please contact us in advance.
- ENDS -
Contacts:
BN Commercial Manager
Andrew Welch 01753 481527
07774 955138
commercial.manager@bn.org.uk
Notes for Editors
British Naturism (BN) is the UK’s officially recognised naturist organisation. It exists to support and unite naturists around the UK and will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2014, although its predecessors were in existence since the 1930s.
A survey conducted in the autumn of 2011 by Ipsos Mori shows that there are 3.7 million naturists in the UK
Amongst the aims of BN are to campaign for more places to be made available for naturism and to protect naturists against discrimination and Victorian attitudes to the human body.
Fact – in law, there is no offence of nudity. Various pieces of legislation and common law are often mentioned in connection with naturism but they are not relevant.
In the UK, there are over 130 sun clubs, swim clubs and holiday resorts and many beaches used regularly by naturists. Membership of BN is around 10,500 people with many more being members of clubs affiliated to BN.
YBN (Young British Naturists) has a membership of young men and women between the ages of 18 and 30 who get together at clubs and beaches many weekends. They represent the UK at the International Naturist Federation (INF) Youth Rally held annually
Naturism is good for you! Naturists report improvements in well-being, stress, chronic illness, self-esteem and body image. It’s also a sensible choice of dress when the weather is warm. Naturists are normal people. The only difference between activities inside and outside of naturism is the dress code.
It is a fallacy to believe that naked children are any more at risk in a naturist environment. Unaccompanied children are not permitted in naturist places and the community spirit that pervades ensures that a watchful eye is present. Despite the perception, there are far fewer problems in naturism than in more “public” places where children and adults mix. Mindful of the need to be aware of child safeguarding issues, however, BN have a robust child safeguarding policy, code of practice, and a Child Safeguarding sub-committee that meets regularly and runs workshops on the subject, sometimes to groups from outside the naturist world.
For the media, there is a dedicated “Media Centre” at https://www.bn.org.uk/media, which contains useful information for those wishing to write about naturism or to feature this wonderful world in their publications or programmes

The BN Campaign Against Body Shame (CABS)

The BN Campaign Against Body Shame (CABS)

Here's a fantastic new BN initiative that we want you all to get behind.
The BN Campaign Against Body Shame (CABS)
Raising awareness of the damage caused by 'Body Shame'
The vast majority of people feel some level of anxiety about their bodies. In extreme cases it may lead to eating disorders, or refusal to seek medical attention

Body shame may contribute to the persistence of some barbaric ‘traditions’ or other abuses inflicted on babies and children
Body shame blights the lives of many people and the CABS campaign aims to combat this

As Naturists, we are less likely to be affected by Body Shame issues and we are an ideal group to get this national campaign started

What do we want you to do?
Wear a badge with a picture of yourself, nude, during a well publicised time frame (Obviously, this would be when you’re clothed)


The badges will be small button badges (like the one above) and your picture will appear on the badge at around 18 – 20 mm (about ¾ of an inch) high

Nudefest, will be a chance to have professional quality pictures taken, for free, to be used on the badges. There’ll be plenty of opportunity to get involved if you don’t go to Nudefest

We believe that the campaign will help to build Naturism’s positive image and raise the profile of BN

Please sign up by sending an email with "I'm in" in the subject line to geoff.read@bn.org.uk. Thanks!

Why don’t we open the gates to potential new members?

Why don’t we open the gates to potential new members?

If Ascot can do it, then it’s good enough for us – Let’s have a Ladies Day, says Roni Fine.
A common complaint among naturists is that there are too many men, particularly single ones: I beg to differ: the truth is there are not enough women, married or single! So what can we do about this? We need to take naturism to women, to catch their eye and interest. I have always thought the fact that BN magazines feature photos of their members is a wise move.
Prospective naturist ladies are often put off by the posed pictures of young models with slim, shapely bodies that they see in other publications. This often makes them feel inadequate. Even when magazines include ladies of all shapes and sizes, women can still be reluctant to strip off, as they think they will be judged on their looks before anything else. How wrong they are!
The naturist community is one of the few places where people are generally accepted for who they are, not for what they look like.
Anyway, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and we all rate different aspects of the opposite sex when deciding if they are attractive or not, which is just as well as there would be a lot of lonely people out there if they were all waiting for the “perfect” body to make an appearance! “Love the one you’re with” is a good motto “Accept the body you are”, could be another one!
Blackthorns, like many clubs, have far more applications from men than women, but we still like to keep an equal balance of the sexes amongst our membership when we can. We are very fortunate that our numbers are made up of all ages so we have a nice, varied mix of people which goes to make an interesting social atmosphere, but we would very much like to attract more female members. So what can we do in order to achieve this?
I believe word of mouth is still the best advertising campaign (and the cheapest!), and I encourage members to broadcast what they do and where they do it and, most importantly of all to the inquisitive, why they do it! Once we get across to them the liberating feeling of being naked in the warmth of the sun, we are halfway to creating converts.
But reaching women, particularly single women, is the hardest challenge. The majority of female members have been almost dragged along to a club or event by their partner and though some will give it a go just to humour them, most will not adapt or even try to.
I understand how they feel; I told my husband when I first met him and found out he was a member of Blackthorns: “Well, don’t ask me to go there, because I am not going to!” And I meant it! But now I have a simple plan that all clubs could try out: A Ladies Day.
Think about it: there are already groups that encourage like-minded worriers and strugglers to rally together and gain in confidence by the encouragement they give each other. Alcoholics Anonymous, Weight Watchers, Keep Fit or, rather, Get Fit classes. The list goes on. Their success stems from the members helping each other through their emotions and achieving their target together. So, my simple idea is a day when I shall invite women along to give naturism a try in the company of other women who will be there to support and encourage them to find out why men are so keen to get their kit off!
I will not be closing the club to our members, because it wouldn’t be fair to stop them enjoying the sunshine, but I must admit I am lucky to have suitable grounds at Blackthorns to enable me to meet the hesitant ladies at the gate, direct them to the car parking area and then lead them through the trees to a secluded glade where men will have been asked to avoid, just for that afternoon.
Give your club layout some thought and see if you can do likewise. The ladies won’t need to see a naked man all the way there, or more to the point, a naked man won’t see them! I am also lucky to have the perfect Spring setting with primroses, violets and bluebells in abundance; I am always thrilled to show off our picturesque grounds, as the reaction is always a good one.
Of course, a good trick would be to ply them with a glass of wine to relax them, as they do at time-share seminars! However, most of them will be arriving by car, so I can’t do that; I will have to ensure my sparkling, bubbly personality will be intoxicating enough!
Enrol the help of other ladies who are good at conversation, to give advice and relay their initial worries they had to overcome when they first joined; a bit like the “Loose Women” programme on the telly. If you can include ladies of all ages, shapes and sizes, you will illustrate that we are not all super-models and of catwalk quality but everyday women, just like them. We will soon put them at ease and laugh together and I hope the self-confidence with our own nakedness, and a little warm sunshine, will encourage them to disrobe and find out what Gok Wan did for his ladies – they always felt heaps better once they had relaxed under the spell of his compliments and camaraderie. If he can do it for them, then we can do it for ourselves!
Then if they find that it just isn’t for them, they can retrace their steps back to their cars and exit the grounds without having to explain themselves to anyone! And for those who enjoyed the afternoon’s experience, there would then be the opportunity to explore the rest of the grounds and maybe even meet other naturists, including males, on our clubhouse patio by the pool and indulge in a swim or sunbathe on the lawn. For some, that might still be too soon and another visit might be needed before they feel able to mix.
The choice will be theirs with no pressure on them to do anything they don’t wish to, but with lots of encouragement to feel good about themselves. I am going to make this available on one afternoon in the week and again on a weekend, to cater or women who go out to work, or have children to care for. I want no excuses for them not to come!
Of course, I will still be methodical and ask all visitors to contact me to book their visit and to bring ID with them, just as I always do with any prospective member visiting our club.
So what do you think? Is this a simple idea that you could reproduce at your club? I do hope so. Give it a try and report back to me how it goes and I will mention your results in my next article, when I am telling you how successful I have been with my Ladies Day!
Now, if you don’t think you need to target the ladies in particular, why not hold a general open day at your club – perhaps to coincide with the Great British Skinny Dip? I frequently find people want to explore the world of naturism but are beaten by nerves time and again. Some even make an appointment and then chicken out; seasoned naturists don’t always understand why. They have forgotten, or maybe never experienced, the nervousness that can be the downfall of recruitment. You need to make your club available.
My current form of enquiry usually starts with a phone call or email and I reply promptly to make applicants feel important. I engage them in friendly chatter whilst answering their questions and finding out about them at the same time, without them even realising I am doing so! I then book them in for a set time at a weekend when Deane (my husband) and I will escort them round the club, showing them the site and facilities and introducing them to other members along the way, keeping it all very informal. Of course, I always insist they bring some ID to satisfy me they are who they say they are and I even clarify their appointment by post and ask them to bring the letter with them, to prove their home details are correct.
You could advertise an Open Day which people can attend at set times for a tour or a group meeting in a secluded part of the club, as I described for my Ladies Day. By bringing new people together for their first visit, they may well find strength in numbers and their common link might give them confidence to talk about their hopes and fears and discover they are worrying for no good reason. You could hold a question and answer forum and if no one dares to ask anything, suggest a question and supply the answer.
Once you gain their trust, I am sure they will join in. They share the common denominator: a desire to take their clothes off! Again, turn it into a social event with drinks and nibbles or, if you are lucky enough to have some good weather, ice creams all round!
I always show people round whilst clothed so that they do not feel the odd ones out amongst the naked members on a particularly hot day. I let them undress when and where they feel comfortable and then I do the same. My aim during their visit is to put them at their ease. I don’t abandon them after the initial tour but keep myself available for the remainder of the day whilst they try out the facilities, so that they know they can come back to me at anytime and always have a friend to hand so that they do not have to summon the confidence to ask a stranger. They might be grown-ups but we can all feel like a child on our first day at school when put in an alien environment for the first time and we just need a friendly teacher to hold our hand to get through that first day!
By the time you read this, it will be March and, hopefully, the warm weather is almost upon us and you have time to put these ideas into practice. Place an advert in your local newspaper; contact them as they may wish to run an article for free! Be prepared to show the reporter and photographer around your club and pose for photos.
Deane and I did this for our local press and it gave us a free half-page advertisement including an article by a reporter who had glimpsed what life in a naturist club was really like. Why not invite them to give it a try themselves! Use any free magazines that are delivered to the door in your neighbourhood and to pubs, shops, libraries, garden centres etc in your area.
The cost of advertisements in these publications vary but the good thing is they reach a wide community of could-be naturists not actively looking for naturist news. Contact your local radio station as they also love anything involving nudity and a topic that makes people tune in and listen. And we all have the perfect body for radio, so don’t be shy, conduct the interview in the nude – I always do!
So get organised, get busy and let me know how you get on.

If you are happy and you know it... you are probably a naturist!

If you are happy and you know it... you are probably a naturist!

Martin Warrillow meets an inspiring ambassador for ‘new’ naturism.
Most readers of this magazine have, of course, known it for years; naturists are happier than so-called textiles. We’re happier, more in tune with nature, with a better, more sensible and relaxed attitude to our bodies and the human body generally.
Yet we’ve never been able to prove it, other than by encouraging people to try social nudity for themselves and see what happens. Well, now we can. For the first time, proper academic research has been done which appears to show that all these things are true. People have been interviewed under proper research conditions, academic tests have been applied to the data – and it all seems to be true.
The research has been done by Emma Stokes, a psychology student from Keele University; Emma, aged 29 and from Stoke-on-Trent, knew nothing about naturism until she joined a friend who was leading an aquarobics session at our Alton Towers weekend in 2010. Now, less than two years later, she has become such an ardent naturist that she has changed her field of academic research to look more closely at the subject – and, as readers may have seen, been the subject of recent features in the Daily Express and Love It! magazine.
“It all started when I went to AT in 2010,” explained Emma. “A friend who was leading an aquarobics session asked me to go along to give some moral support and I agreed. I kept my clothes on all weekend but I was fascinated and when I came away, I started looking for areas in which I could do proper research into naturism. No-one had ever done anything like this before.”
Emma quickly came up with three areas to look into – the positive effects of naturism on body image; measuring the happiness of naturists against the rest of the population and studying groups of naturists to find out why they had taken up social nudity.
She returned to the BN Alton Towers weekend in 2011 to carry out research among the members attending and as a result, was able to prove all the hypotheses about the benefits of social nudity.
“I could have fallen flat on my face and at first, the academic staff at Keele were very against it but my supervisor has been very supportive,” said Emma. “She did say that she wouldn’t have let a 19-year-old do it and there were some problems about the ethics of doing the interviews in those circumstances – I had to keep my clothes on, for instance!”
BN members at the weekend were also extremely supportive. “Everyone was really forthcoming and I had more people coming forward to be interviewed than I knew what to do with!” she added. The results of her research have had such an impact on Emma that she has shaken off her own previous body-image issues and become one of naturism’s most ardent public supporters – and finally decided to take the plunge herself at the end of last year’s AT weekend.
“Why wouldn’t I want to live as a naturist now that I know it’s so beneficial?” she asked. “Everyone is very respectful and looks you in the eye – no-one’s looking down at you. I’ve felt for years the pressure to look a certain way and now that I don’t, it’s lovely. If I had been raised as a naturist, I wouldn’t have had the body-image issues that I did. It’s the first time in my life that I have felt really happy with my body.
“If I have children, I will be raising them in the naturist lifestyle – I’m not having them having the same body-image issues as I did.
“I’ve realised the most important thing – your body doesn’t have to be perfect, you just have to feel beautiful.” Now that Emma has become such a public supporter of naturism, she is determined to promote it among younger people and has some strong views on how BN and the movement generally can lower it's worryingly high age profile.
“Some clubs and swims and some naturists generally still don’t like people with piercings and tattoos,” she said, showing me the Japanese design on her stomach – one of four tattoos she wears.
“But to young people, these things are perfectly normal and they won’t give that up. Attitudes to things like that are going to have to change if naturism is going to bring in more young people.”
And she is also opposed to the ‘be naked all the time’ demands of some clubs. “I love being without clothes at the appropriate time but I also love being a girl and I love my clothes,” she said. “Saying to people, especially young people, that they can’t get dressed in the evenings can be very offputting. I think naturism could attract far more young single women if it was more relaxed about that.”
Emma’s visit to the Alton Towers weekend did more than allow her to finally experience the naturist lifestyle. She won the prize draw and is now off to Greece this summer for her first naturist holiday to celebrate her birthday.
“None of my friends want to come, though!” she said.

Opening a new window for naturist swims

Opening a new window for naturist swims

David Ross reports on an experiment which could offer an exciting idea for the future.
A former reservoir, Shaftesbury community pool is managed by enthusiastic firefighter Sarah Wheeler. She got in touch with BN in 2010, looking for new income streams. This led to the 2011 Great British Skinny Dip swim and in turn to Shaston Swim, which starts on April 10 (7-9 pm).
If naturism is to grow, then I suggest that swimming is an obvious path to follow. We can rent other people’s assets and since failures won’t cost a lot, we can afford to innovate. Of course, the biggest prize of all would be regular naturist sessions in public swimming baths run by the proprietors. That does happen but is rare, and so this is a major coup for GBSD in its first year.
The GBSD swim was a one-off, of course, receiving support from across the region, but it was a proof of concept for Sarah and we discussed the economics. It was not hard to see that there would be enough local support for her to make money on a weekday evening and it was for purely financial considerations that she agreed to go ahead.
This said, the iconic hilltop town in North Dorset is a small place, so we agreed that as part of our support we will provide a “front”. All the financial risk stays with the pool, Naked Swim donated the £8 to register “shastonswim.org.uk” (using the ancient name that local newspapers used as shorthand) and to host a web page. Viv Jupp agreed to be local coordinator. Swimmers will pay £5 to the pool and 50p to be used for adverts in the local freesheet.
The pool is basic, but delightful, with no exterior windows but a fully glazed roof. Sadly, this is not thermally efficient so the pool only opens in the summer and the first season runs on every second Tuesdays of the month from April to September. How can we build on this achievement? I hope that others will be inspired to seek out community pools across the country. Older pools, especially, have few windows and in these straitened times, why not take advantage of the operators’ need for cash?
I hope that the 2012 season will make Shaston Swim a case study for others to follow.
As planning starts for British Naturism’s first National Convention, members of the Online Forum are being asked to contribute to a survey to list the characteristics of pools. I hope the resulting database will be a useful tool to rule out or in potential venues for naturism.
Meanwhile, Naked Swim has been enjoying a successful winter at its temporary home – the Thomas Hardye Leisure Centre in the Dorset county town. It is another spin-off from GBSD 2010, which I, as proprietor, saw as a one-off farewell to the soon-to-be-closed pool.
When LA Fitness headquarters decided (without consulting friendly local management) that we were “uneconomic”, we were ejected from our home in Poole. So seeing Dorchester out until the new pool comes into service in Spring 2012 seemed a natural thing – especially as the locals told me how much the swim there had been missed over the last 10 years.
We have just about broken even at £7 a head for a two-hour swim; the recent trend for more couples turning up has mirrored the phenomenon also seen at other local swims. Some of them have come back to naturist swimming after a break, others are naturists on holiday who haven’t swum nude in the UK before. Considering that I don’t examine ID or even ask for names and I’m recruiting completely new people to naturism, it is gratifying that my gender mix is about the same as that seen in established clubs.

British Naturism Magazine - BN191 Spring 2012

British Naturism Magazine - BN191 Spring 2012

The spring 2012 magazine (BN 191) is possibly one of the most exciting editions in years!
We have a three-page special on the Channel 4 documentary, My Daughter the Teenage Nudist, which was broadcast in January to an audience of around two million and led to a lot of attention in BN and Naturism; we have three pages of news and action from the Young British Naturists, including full details of all their events throughout the coming year and we meet Emma Stokes, one of the driving forces behind YBN.
With all this positive publicity in mind, both Roni Fine and Chris Lusby-Taylor urge us all, as clubs and individuals, to start thinking more about how we can better promote naturism. Could your club hold a ladies' open day? Could you agree to be interviewed by your local media? Every little helps to show how much fun naturism can be.
Our travel section looks at Spain, with venues such as El Portus, Casa de Cinco Hermanos and the wonderful island of Formentera under the spotlight.
All this and a positively bulging section of reports from our clubs, What's On listings, swim and sauna details and much more
Don't forget that the magazine and recent past issues are also available for BN members to download in the members' area.

YBN Events List 2012

YBN Events List 2012

We host events throughout the year from “The North To The South and The East To The West”, to make sure that our YBN’ers can get to an event that’s near them, as-well as at least one event abroad, to meet all the international youth groups!
We also attend many BN and club avents as well as arranging own own get-togethers amongst ourselves.
All of our events are at a minimal cost; as nearly all of us are skint and penniless… But the fun that can be had at these events costs nothing! And let’s face it…. It’s not like we need to fork out for a new outfit to enjoy the fun!
All of our public events are now on our Facebook page and we welcome both existing and new members! When you join us, you get access to our private community where we arrange smaller get togethers
Summer is drawing to a close now, so we're tending to move indoors to the warmer venues like swims and waterparks. Here's a taste of what we've done this year...
Central
YBN Winter Weekend
Feb 10-12th
Every Year we have a ‘Winter Weekend’ where we all go to stay somewhere together and have a few days of fun, games and many giggles! This year we are staying in Birmingham at the 'Youth Hostel’ which is a central location in the country to make it fair and easy for everyone in the UK to get to.
This event is usually a clothed event, for reasons of venue, new member additions and the beautiful cold weather British weather that we are having! But this time the ‘YBN Winter Weekend’ is going to be enjoyed with the addition of a Naturist Sunday afternoon an infamous Naturist Spa, where you can unwind after a hard weekend of partying.
The winter weekend is great way to introduce your friends to YBN for their very first time and of course; for us all to have a good catch up after the mayhem of Xmas and New Year!
London
YBN Easter Weekend
April 13-15th
This year we’re having a post ‘Easter Weekend’ at Diogenes Naturist Club just outside the west of London. This is where we get the chance to meet up again before the summer starts, to enjoy a more relaxed indoor venue; at a club that we haven’t visited before! We may even brave the elements by camping in mid April, as it can often be quite warm by then!
This is our first YBN Easter event due to popular demand for more youth events in Winter/Spring. We have so many new members; we thought we’d try to do a few more different and fun things this year!
This event is especially exciting as we will be having our first ever YBN - AGM, we will also be having our first ever YBN team meet-up. This is a great opportunity to make yourselves heard!
The theme for this evening will be a Bollywood theme, complete with authentic cuisine!! So dust of your dancing feet........ It's going to be fun!!
Plus it’s a good chance to share all your left over chocolate you won’t have eaten by then…
International
INF Youth Rally 2012
May 17-20th
Every year YBN meet up with all the other youth organisations within the INF; we’re invited to go along for 5 days of fun somewhere new! This gives us all the chance to meet up and enjoy each other’s international company; which doesn’t happen often enough! It makes for a lot of fun!!! It’s usually hot too…………. Always a bonus!
Last year it was in France, before that Germany, then Italy and so on…
The food and all the activities are organised throughout the long weekend and there is normally a trip out of the campsite to the city where there will be another fun-filled day planned for us. This is all included in the very low price of only 50 Euros per person!!!
Where else can you get 5 days all inclusive accommodation that cheap anywhere else in the world!? And with such good company too!
So don’t miss out on this once a year opportunity…
Western
YBN Western Weekend
June 22-24th
Our Western weekend this year will be start on the Friday night where we will be visiting Western Swimming Club (WSC) at their weekly swim, before heading off to Western Sun Folk Naturist Club (WSF). There we will spend the remainder of the weekend enjoying what their grounds have to offer and of course; one another’s excellent company! As well as the best that the West has to offer!
(WSC, WSF, WTF -that’s a lot of abbreviations!) But it would be a shame to travel all that way and not visit them both on the same weekend.
Southern
Youth GBSD Weekend
July 13-15th
The big summer version of BN’s promotion; The Great British Skinny Dip- on July 15. The reason behind it all is to have skinny dips everywhere on this weekend so that everyone can experience the joy of swimming without clothes, and being naked and free amongst friends...
So YBN are Hosting our own Youth GBSD @ Spielplatz Naturist Club in St Albans. If your friends also want to try naturism for a change, then the Youth GBSD party 2012 is the place to be!
The cost is minimal for the weekend, as they are all with all our YBN events! Cost will include your 2 nights camping and all meals from Friday night dinner until breakfast Sunday morning!
On the Saturday night there will be a disco, where we will be entertained by the infamous ‘Big Mark’ the DJ!! A great opportunity to ‘strut your funky stuff’ and dazzle us all with your moves!
South West
YBN @ SW Kidz Camp
July 20-22nd
It has been said for a while now that we need to join in with the kids, so we are joining forces and going to the South West to come along to their Kidz Camp at Avonvale Naturist Club. There we will have the option to go to Splashdown on the Saturday evening and to the Studland Beach Day on the Sunday, all in the same ‘neck of the woods’….
So a fun packed weekend that gives us the opportunity to let our hair down and behave like the ‘secret’ kids that we all still are!!!
Booking & more details TBC….
Eastern
YBN Olympic Event - cancelled
Aug 8-12th
For various operational reasons this event is no longer happening. Sorry!
To celebrate London 2012, we are hosting our own Naked Olympics at Broadlands Naturist Club at their teenager’s weekend; where everyone young is open to join in. We are also inviting our INF affiliates from all other youth groups around the world!!!
The theme to this event will be that of ancient Greece; brought bang up to date with the usual brand of YBN fun!
Northern
YBN Northern Event
Aug 25-27th
Joining our Northern counterparts up in at one of our Northern Naturist Clubs, YBN have always enjoyed the friendly welcoming atmosphere that is awaiting us from the locals.
With great facilities and even better food, they look after us all as if we were their own kids! Just another bonus to this fantastic weekend is their great bar with some very well chosen ales!
How could we resist coming back up to the wonderful and fabulous North to see them all again!
South East
YBN Volleyball Tournament
Aug 31st -Sept 2nd
YBN join volleyball teams around the country in Kent for a weekend of competition, and a bit of relaxing too!
Be sure to join us for the last few events of 2012 and of course, next year for summer 2013!

BN in the Daily Express

BN in the Daily Express

Check out today's Daily Express for an interview with BN Member Emma Stokes
http://www.express.c...y-of-baring-all

Press Release: New Year, new nudists

Press Release: New Year, new nudists

Naturism in the 21st century is being increasingly driven by the internet, thanks to social media such as Facebook and Twitter and niche websites such as Naked Vegan Cooking (www.nakedvegancooking.com)
This phenomenon is explored in a documentary called ‘My Daughter, the Teenage Nudist’ to be broadcast on Thursday January 12.
British Naturism are delighted to have been fully involved with this excellent film. We worked closely throughout 2011 with ZKK, the production company, helping them to find people and places to show how social nudity is becoming much more common - even if in a more casual way - and amongst younger people.
BN’s commercial manager, Andrew Welch, said: “We were happy to help out with a film that really gives an insight into the new naturist world. Social nudity is not just for people of a certain age group and young people like the stars of this film, Molly, Alex and Daryl, are taking it to places where traditional naturism has rarely been and challenging conventional thought.
“Our recent survey, conducted for us by Ipsos Mori, showed that around 3.7 million people in the United Kingdom consider themselves to be naturists.
‘My Daughter, the Teenage Nudist’ goes out on Channel 4 at 10pm on Thursday January 12.
Mollie, Alex and Daryl are all available for interview
- ENDS - Contacts: BN Commercial Manager Andrew Welch: Tel - 01753 481527/07774 955138 commercial.manager@bn.org.uk Notes for Editors
British Naturism (BN) is the UK’s officially recognised naturist organisation. It exists to support and unite naturists around the UK and will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2014, although its predecessors were in existence since the 1930s. A survey conducted in the autumn of 2011 by Ipsos Mori shows that there are 3.7 million naturists in the UK Amongst the aims of BN are to campaign for more places to be made available for naturism and to protect naturists against discrimination and Victorian attitudes to the human body. Fact – in law, there is no offence of nudity. Various pieces of legislation and common law are often mentioned in connection with naturism but they are not relevant. In the UK, there are over 130 sun clubs, swim clubs and holiday resorts and many “officially designated” naturist beaches, with many others used regularly by naturists. Membership of BN is around 10,500 people with many more being members of clubs affiliated to BN. There are also thousands of UK naturists who enjoy holidays and beaches in the UK and abroad without being members of recognised naturist organisations. YBN (Young British Naturists) has a membership of young men and women between the ages of 18 and 30 who get together at clubs and beaches many weekends. They represent the UK at the International Naturist Federation (INF) Youth Rally held annually Naturism is good for you. Naturists report improvements in well-being, stress, chronic illness, self-esteem and body image. It’s also a sensible choice of dress when the weather is warm. Naturists are normal people. The only difference between activities inside and outside of naturism is the dress code. It is a fallacy to believe that naked children are any more at risk of abuse in a naturist environment. In addition, unaccompanied children are not permitted in naturist places and the community spirit that pervades ensures that a watchful eye is present. Despite the perception, there are far fewer problems in naturism than in more “public” places where children and adults mix. Mindful of the need to be aware of child safeguarding issues, however, BN have a robust child safeguarding policy, code of practice, and a Child Safeguarding sub-committee that meets regularly and runs workshops on the subject, sometimes to groups from outside the naturist world. For the media, there is a dedicated “Media Centre” at https://www.bn.org.uk/media, which contains useful information for those wishing to write about naturism or to feature this wonderful world in their publications or programmes

Nearly 4 million naturists in the UK

Nearly 4 million naturists in the UK

Ten years ago BN employed GfK NOP to conduct a poll to find out what people’s attitudes really were and how many naturists there really are. That information has been invaluable to support our campaigning work but it was getting too old to be useful. We decided to engage Ipsos MORI to repeat the exercise.
The survey was conducted during 23rd – 29th September 2011 via Capibus, Ipsos-MORI’s weekly face-to-face in-home interviews, using computer laptops. Ipsos MORI uses a form of random location sampling and 159 different sampling points were used. The sample comprised of 2,033 respondents aged 15 or over. It is interesting to compare how the numbers have changed but it can’t tell us how things are changing now. The time interval, over ten years, is too large for that. Questions and methods have changed so some care is required when making comparisons.
A lot of work is going to be needed to analyse these results properly but I can provide a summary:
Q1. Experience of Naturism
The differences compared to 2001 have altered a little. A lower percentage of people have experienced nude sunbathing (10% in 2011 compared to 14% in 2001) or swimming (22% in 2011 compared to 24% in 2001) but a higher percentage have been to a British clothes-optional beach, resort or club (10% in 2011 compared to 7% in 2001). The figures are arguably a lot higher than many people would believe. It may only be one person in ten (10%) that has been to a naturist beach, resort or club in the United Kingdom but more than one in ten (12%) has been to a foreign naturist beach, one in ten (10%) has sunbathed nude and one in five (22%) has swum nude.
Q2. Opinion of naturists
The wording of this question was changed, on the advice of the polling company, but some loose comparisons can be made. Just over eight in ten people (82%) state that naturists are harmless, 5% say that they are sensible. Fewer than one in ten (9%) thinks that we are disgusting and only one in a hundred (1%) considers naturists to be criminal. That is similar to 2001 when 2% said “criminal” and 7% “disgusting”.
Q3. Encountering naturists on the beach
Around the same percentage (1%) would go naked themselves and more (5%) would be alarmed and keep well away than was the case ten years ago (2%) but the changes are small. Only one in a hundred (1%) would call the police.
Q4. Suitability of places for Naturism
There have been large changes for the worse. The proportion of the population stating that naturism should be legal in back gardens (38% in 2011, 66% in 2001), at certain times in public swimming pools (10% 2011 vs. 35% 2001), quiet areas of public parks (5% in 2011 vs. 10% in 2001), and designated areas (42% in 2011 vs. 69% in 2001) have all fallen considerably.
Q5. Are you a naturist or nudist?
6% of the people in the UK consider themselves to be a naturist or nudist. That is almost one person in 17. To put it another way, on the average 50-seater coach you would expect to find three people who consider themselves to be a naturist or nudist. In 2010, the population of the UK was about 62 million so there are now roughly 3.7 million naturists in the UK. We can honestly say that there are nearly four million naturists in the UK, a big increase compared to ten years ago. The percentage of naturists in 2001 was 2%, compared to 4% in 2005, with 2% considering themselves nudists.
Society is becoming more polarised. There are many more naturists but a lot fewer people are happy for naturism to be practised in public places. Both of those changes were expected but we did not expect them to be so large. Unfortunately, despite naturism becoming a lot more popular and despite considerable progress on the legal front, the prudification of society is becoming a serious problem.
Malcolm Boura

My child wants to be a Naturist. What do I do?

My child wants to be a Naturist. What do I do?

You only have to open a newspaper or turn on the television to be exposed to unrealistic and unachievable images of the human body. This can have a major negative influence on a child’s sense of wellbeing and self-confidence.
Figures show that eating disorders and body image issues are on the rise; unfortunately children can believe that the images that they see in the media are what their body should look like. And it can have devastating effects upon them.
It is not easy for a child to grow up in a world with false expectation; Naturism dissipates this misguided view and allows a child to see what the true naked form looks like and to accept and appreciate their own body.
Naturism provides a platform for well adjusted, happy and balanced young adults; at the same time as having fun in a safe and secure environment!
These are just some of the reasons why British Naturism, its members and millions of Naturists around the world think that our way of living is positive and a beneficial way of life!
Hopefully with this article we can help you understand why your child wants to become part of a Naturist organisation.
Naturist children are happy, well-adjusted and safe
Children don’t care if they are wearing clothes or not, in fact they often prefer not to! It is adults that make them get dressed. Starting with a life in Naturism they grow up with a better understanding of what will happen to their bodies with time and they learn to enjoy a relaxed outdoor lifestyle.
Typical Naturist places tend to have entry requirements and secure gates, making the inside a far safer environment than the outside.
So what is YBN and British Naturism…?
Young British Naturists (YBN) is the youth group of British Naturism.
British Naturism (BN) is the UK's internationally-recognised organisation for Naturists in the UK. We are a membership organisation that is comprised of mainly families; we provide a variety of services for our members, as well as working to promote Naturism in wider society and to campaign against the threats to our lifestyle.
We are a self-funding organisation, approaching our 50th birthday, earning most of our revenue from membership fees and donations; occasionally we obtain grants from the International Naturist Federation (INF) to whom we are affiliated.
Naturism is accepted and practised by 3.7 million people in the UK. (Survey conducted by Ipsos Mori in the autumn of 2011)
YBN helps provide a safe environment for youngsters to enjoy inexpensive holidays and weekends, with like-minded people.
We have over 10,000 members and there are in excess of 100 Naturist clubs throughout the UK. There are also activities such as organised Naturist swims at other venues in the UK. Naturism is practised by millions of people around the world.
‘Where do you normally go to be naked?’
Almost all of our events take place in very safe and sometimes secluded environments such as Naturist Clubs, beaches and hired venues. We go to places where nakidity is appreciated and accepted as normal and customary. We use venues that are used to catering for families; we come into contact with other Naturists from all over the world, with all sorts of beliefs; therefore a Naturist environment can be extremely beneficial and educational to a child in allowing them to understand and appreciate different cultures.
‘Why do you want to be naked?’
For many reasons- because we and millions of other people all around the world believe that it’s good for you!
It promotes positive body image as there is no such thing as the perfect body and we are all unique. Both physical and mental health is improved with the benefits of sunshine and fresh air.
‘What motivates your child to want to be a part of a Naturist community?’
Purely and simply, for the same reasons as everyone else that is part of the Naturist community!
It is not always a question that can be easily answered in a short sentence; your child could be motivated to overcome their fears and their confidence issues around their own body. Or to just simply enjoying being naked in a safe environment!
Why do we want them at YBN? - ‘Why do you want to see my child naked?’
We don’t want to ‘see’ anyone naked so to speak; we do however want to see everyone happy and healthy. We want to give everyone the opportunity to reap the benefits of Naturism in the most safe and welcoming environment.
At all of our events being naked is optional, and there is never any pressure to join in and strip off, as Naturism is about feeling comfortable.
‘Why do you want to be in the presence of naked people?’
It’s not about being with naked people as such; it’s about being in an environment where you can practise Naturism and feel comfortable as well being able to reap all of the health benefits that Naturism provides. It is extremely beneficial to be in the presence of other people who don’t judge you; it can be not only provide a greater sense of well being, but it can also be invigorating and enlightening to a person.
‘What policies do you have in place to protect my child or other people…?’
We have many policies and procedures in place to protect everyone in and around our care.
British Naturism’s child protection policy and safeguarding of vulnerable adults policy is one of the most comprehensive and detailed in the country; with outside guidance and approval by the NSPCC and other experts in that field. Our leading child safeguarding officer is also the president of our organisation, and a caring mother. Our organisation is predominantly a family organisation.
In fact many of the parents within British Naturism are teachers, solicitors, nurses, doctors, social workers and child care workers themselves, and most of all - very caring and protective parents!
A Naturist environment is a safe, happy and healthy environment for a child to be a part of.

Key Facts about Naturism…
Naturism is normal
It’s just ordinary people choosing not to wear clothes when the weather and the circumstances are appropriate. Our activities are no different from what most people do in their leisure time, other than the dress code. We’re not anti-clothes; we just know that they are not always essential. It’s also a lot of fun!
Everyone was born naked
…and yet now anyone wanting to return to that natural state is treated with at best, mild amusement and at worst, suspicion. Being naked isn’t obscene, provocative, ridiculous, eccentric, shameful or immodest. Being ‘naked as nature intended’ is a perfectly normal desire. Nudism promotes wholeness of the body, rather than setting aside parts of the body as unwholesome and shameful.
Naturism is good for you
It promotes positive body image; there is no such thing as the perfect body! We are all unique; Naturism allows for acceptance of the human form no matter what shape, size or creed of the person. Both physical and mental health is improved with the benefits of sunshine and fresh air; research suggests that exposure to the sun increases the body’s synthesis of vitamin D. This is vital for calcium absorption and the strengthening of the immune system; exposure to the sun is especially beneficial for younger people for the growth of strong bones.
Naturism provides a relaxing and de-stressing environment with friendly and comfortable community spirit.
Most sunbathers wear very little more than we do. Swimsuits are pointless – why get dressed to get wet?
Naturism has wider benefits too – such as teenage pregnancy rates and abortion rates are lower in countries with a more relaxed attitude to nudity.
Naturism is not about sex
It’s Naturism – not voyeurism!
Naturists are not asexual, however despite what certain public attitude may be; a gathering of naked people does not make for a sexually charged environment.
In-fact a Naturist environment is the least sexually charged environment that a person can be in “Nudity per se cannot be sexually suggestive when it is habitual and customary”.
Sexuality is a matter of intent rather than state of dress.
Naturism is very popular
Millions of people in the UK and even more throughout the world have discovered this wonderful way of life. There are thousands of holiday resorts and other places serving the community. Plenty of people skinny-dip, go topless on beaches and spend time naked at home.
Mankind started off naked, and the naked human form used to be celebrated. It was only the constraints that were put on society in the 1400’s that made us feel ashamed about our body. Society has evolved as a whole however the same shameful and outdated attitude towards the naked human form has been carried forward through time.
The benefits of our membership include such things as;

· Four (quarterly) issues of our magazine delivered to your door

· Access to the BN and YBN members’ forum, to keep up with friends and information etc
· Many events – some for members only, others with discounts on entry
· Meeting like-minded people and the sense of belonging to a vibrant community education
· Help overcoming misunderstandings and prejudice
· General advice and support on issues that affect a naturist's daily life,
· providing a point of contact and information for enquiries, liaising with government and other authorities
· Sharing with and learning from Naturist organisations in other countries
· Discounts on some items in the BN shop
· The BN holiday advice service
· A photo ID/membership card – proven to be useful in establishing your credentials with Authority figures, especially in times of trouble. An INF card – essential for access to some naturist places, discounts offered in others
· The BN e-zine – keeping you up to date with news in between issues of the magazine Summary
We are not asking you to leave your teenager in our care, - far from it. We would much rather that you came along and tried for yourself. We would love you to experience the normal, natural lifestyle that millions of people round the world live.
What we are asking for though is that if your child expresses an interest in a Naturist way of life, you let them explore that. Chances are it’s an opportunity that they will give thanks to you for the rest of their lives.
Remember you are welcome too!
BN Contacts of people and other parents to talk to…
Head Office
Post: British Naturism, 30 - 32 Wycliffe Road, Northampton, NN1 5JF
email: headoffice@bn.org.uk
Telephone: 01604 620361
Fax: 01604 230176
YBN Team
team@ybn.org.uk
BN Child Safeguarding Officer (president of British Naturism)
Angela Russell - president@bn.org.uk
Telephone: 02476 511781
Below on the comments, please could you add your positive experiences and views in respect to how naturism has changed your view;
as a parent, and how it’s benefited your child...
Or did you come to Naturism without your parents? please tell us below…

Under 18?

Under 18?

If you are aged 14-17 you will need your parent/guardian’s permission to join in with any part of YBN; this includes coming along to our events and having full access to the YBN message board. You would need full permission that is signed on a youth consent form; especially if you want to take part in any of BN’s youth group events & activities. Your parent/guardian is more than welcome to come along with you to our events, as your legal guardian.
When you are 18 you can join as a full member, but until then some-one has to be responsible for you.
Are your parent’s members of a Naturist club…?
Yes…
Great, then they have probably heard of YBN, and should be happy if you want to join us. There is no reason why you can’t come along to our events either with them or with their consent.
No - but I can ask them if I can join YBN…
Well there’s no time like the present to ask them… Hopefully they have heard of British Naturism and the fantastic reputation that we have as the country’s leading Naturist organisation. They can look on our website to find out any information that they need and to possibly answer any questions that they may have. We have comprehensive guides regarding Naturism and youth. They can also email our child safeguarding team or our Youth Officer to discuss things further.
No - I don't want to ask them...
There really is no need to be worried or nervous about telling people or about anyone finding out that you enjoy being naked or that you are a Naturist.
You never know; your parents have probably been to a Naturist beach, club or even an event in the past and will be happy that you now want to go too.
After all; there’s no harm in asking them! We are a family organisation!
If your parents are not aware and you don't want to ask them for their permission though, then you can’t join and become a youth member. This would not prevent you from coming to meet us at our public meet-ups, like the Naturist beach days we go to in the summer as it would be at in a public space; just a group of people chilling at the beach!
But if your parents know and are happy to give permission, then great! We encourage you to be honest with your parents and inform them of where you are going and who you are going to meet.
You may encourage them to contact me direct if they have any concerns or issues – I am happy to discuss any aspects of Naturism with your parents and hopefully dispel any concerns that they may have.
Daryl
BN Youth Officer (YBN)

Erections and Naturism

Erections and Naturism

In terms of your concerns about erections, you are not the first to be worried about this; nor will you be the last. I hope that I am able to put your mind at rest with the following information.
I have been a Naturist for a long time and YBN has many members that are completely new to Naturism and to being naked socially. Nearly all of the members have shown the same concern about getting an erection when they first joined. However when it comes to the crunch of making the step into 'public' nudity there is absolutely nothing to worry about!
It is quite normal that guys’ hormones can be a little wild when they are going through puberty and soon after. It is perfectly natural for your body to react in ways that you have no control over, without any reason or warning… It can be a worrying time, full of confusion and doubt.
The thing to remember when you are in a naturist environment is that although there are lots of naked bodies, it is not sexual in any way. But if when you are naked and feel that you may be getting aroused then you just need to make an effort to cover it up; you can wrap a towel around yourself or roll on your front etc; it is not acceptable to walk around with an erection.
But don't get too hung up on this issue, it really is nothing to worry about! The thought and worry will go away as soon as you arrive and strip off with everyone else!
Naturism is a great way to feel accepted and to become comfortable with your own body image; most members have found that by coming to Naturist events both their overall confidence and their positivity towards their own body image has increased. Naturists are very accepting people; they see people for who they are and not what they look like. It’s not about what ‘brand’ or ‘badge’ you are wearing; it is all about you as a person.
Rest assured though, you are not alone with your initial concerns! After all; the majority of us have felt those same concerns and had those same anxieties. Like most new things; the thought of trying something often creates much more anxiety than at the actual experience itself!!
I hope this helps and if you have any further questions about this or YBN & Naturism in general please do not hesitate to ask.
BN Youth Officer (YBN)

Dame Helen Mirren named "Naturist of the Year"

Dame Helen Mirren named "Naturist of the Year"

British Naturism, the UK’s internationally recognised body for organised naturism, has awarded leading British actress, Dame Helen Mirren, the title of “Naturist of the Year”. Miss Mirren was presented with an engraved rose bowl to mark the award. Dame Helen was selected from a number of well-known celebrities who have made their love of a naturist lifestyle public.
Mick Ayers, Chairman of British Naturism, said:
“Naturism in this country is thriving and there are hundreds of thousands of UK people enjoying naturist beaches, clubs, swims and resorts, both here and abroad and yet it is often portrayed as an eccentric activity pursued by a tiny minority. So, when one of Britain’s best loved and successful actresses is happy to talk openly about her love of naturism, it helps our cause no end. I am delighted that we have been able to say thanks, by making this award.”
Dame Helen Mirren said:
“Many thanks to British Naturism for this great honour. I do believe in naturism and am my happiest on a nude beach with people of all ages and races!”
Date: June 2004

Puberty and Naturism

Puberty and Naturism

Puberty is a name for the time when you start to change from a child to an adult. Puberty is normal and it happens to everyone. You may be looking forward to puberty, or dreading it! Or you may feel both ways about it! You’ll go through a lot of changes, but you will still be YOU, just with some important differences. Try to think of it as one of the great adventures of your life, because it is.
In terms of Naturism when you are going through puberty; there is nothing to worry about or to be embarrassed about. After all we have all been there! We understand that the changes in your body occur at different times for different people; we also understand that it can be a very confusing time for you.
When the hormones are ‘raging’ and you may feel uncomfortable with your body Naturism is a great way to be comfortable those changes. It allows you to feel accepted and to become happier with your own body; most members have found that by coming to Naturist events both their overall confidence and their positivity towards their own body image has increased.
We understand that you may have worries about what your body is going to do without any warning!
Boys - if you get an erection, don’t worry about it! It’s perfectly normal! We know that sometimes you just don’t have any control over what’s going on! Just cover yourself with a towel or roll onto your front, no-one is going to pass any comment or judgement towards you; it’s nothing to be embarrassed about.
Girls – You may be concerned about the changes in the shape of your body; you don’t need to be embarrassed about it! Everything that is happening is completely normal and no-one is looking at you. You may have concerns about getting your period in a Naturist environment; again this is nothing to worry about or to be embarrassed about! If you have any concerns about this then it is fine to wear bikini bottoms.
The thing to remember is that everyone’s body shape is different; even when you have gone through puberty your body is going to be completely different to someone else’s. Naturism provides a realist view of the body; it allows you to accept that the way you look is normal.
Under 18?
I hope this helps and if you have any further questions about this or YBN & Naturism in general please do not hesitate to ask.
Daryl
BN Youth Officer (YBN)

Youth Body Image

Youth Body Image

If you have concerns about your body image then you are just the same as nearly everyone else before they tried Naturism. You are certainly not the first to be worried about your body shape or size or the way that you look in general; nor will you be the last. I hope that I will be able to put your mind at rest with the following information.
I have been a Naturist for a long time; YBN has many members that are completely new to both Naturism and being naked in a social setting. Prior to coming to a Naturist setting many people worry about their shapes and sizes, religions and creed, any marks or scars that they may have on their body, tattoos, their menstrual cycles, disabilities, and whole host of other things! However; when it comes to the crunch of making their step into 'public' nudity they all have absolutely nothing to worry about.
Naturism is a great way to feel accepted and to become comfortable with your own body; most members have found that by coming to Naturist events both their overall confidence and their positivity towards their own body image has increased. Naturists are very accepting people; they see people for who they are and not what they look like. It’s not about what ‘brand’ or ‘badge’ you are wearing; it is all about you as a person.
Rest assured though, you are not alone with your initial concerns! After all; the majority of us have felt those same concerns and had those same anxieties. Like most new things; the thought of trying something often creates much more anxiety than at the actual experience itself!!
If at all when you are at an event you feel self-conscious then you are more than welcome to put something on or around you, in order to make you feel more comfortable. No-one will ever force you to take your clothes off! Naturism is all about comfort and being happy.
I hope that this helps and if you have any further questions about this or YBN or just Naturism in general please do not hesitate to ask.
BN Youth Officer (YBN)

YBN’s great nude summer of 2011

YBN’s great nude summer of 2011

Youthful energy driving us on!
This summer we have been here there and everywhere, travelling around the country having fun in different places.
Many clubs have invited us to join in with their summer festivities and allowed us to host YBN weekends; as always, we have to choose only a few of them to attend, this year being Manchester, Heritage, Nottingham, Spielplatz, and Ashdene, while we also have the volleyball tournament to look forward to in a few weeks.
We’ve partied with fancy dress discos in our best Hawaiian outfits at Heritage and showed the active sporty members how to play volleyball once again at their home grounds; we had an amazing UV-glow party in the evening at Spielplatz which got the dance floor lit up with multi-coloured UV paints and their very own DJ Mark’s famous music keeping everyone awake and dancing until the early hours... and we sunbathed at Manchester, using the extremely hot weather which we booked especially for the occasion!
YBN co-hosted the Great British Skinny Dip event at Spielplatz this year whilst having our weekend festivities, showing the club our great energetic spirit whilst bringing along many youngsters who were new to naturism and the idea of public and social ‘nakidity’, which was a great success for all.
We have also been hosting facilities and dedicating a lot of our time to an enthusiastic film crew from ZKK, a London-based documentary production company. We’ve been working with them for a new documentary aimed at advertising and normalising naturism and ‘nakidity’, especially among the youth of our country. Working with an award winning director, not only YBN but other clubs and individuals have been working together and along-side one another to help make this hour-long documentary into a huge success, with content that we want, in the way that we want it said.
The documentary should be shown on Channel 4 in the early part of next year and we are very hopeful that it will not only re-educate people in the way we would like things to be said about our way of life and common beliefs; we also hope that it will entice many more teens and youngsters to our friendly and family-orientated world of YBN, showing the country that there is somewhere to go and a community to join to enjoy a naked way of life!

Colourful continental fun at the INF Youth Rally 2011

Colourful continental fun at the INF Youth Rally 2011

This year’s INF rally was held in a stunningly beautiful naturist club in the south of France.
Being June and given what the weather man had told us all, who would have thought it would rain all week, yet be the hottest day of the year in most other federations’ countries? Nevertheless, fun was had by all and even more friends were made this time round.
The theme for the week was ‘create’ with classes on drawing, music and massage. Anyone was free to join in with the activities and take advantage of the sessions organised for everyone. I think the most popular activity for YBN was the walk through the hills. Despite the clouds and rain, the club was still a place of beauty with amazing scenery, complemented by the river running below and, may I add, an incredibly cold river!
This still didn’t get in the way of water based games, though; braving it, we got involved, as points mean prizes – one problem, though; I think the French missed out on that saying as I saw no prizes!
Body painting was also the highlight activity for many. I can see why the French chose the theme they did... Some of the things they were able to paint were amazing! Daryl was left sporting a scarily realistic eye on his chest, along with a red pair of shorts. Then, we had a problem...what to do with all of the left-over paint?? The children within us thought that a paint fight on the beach would be a great idea! What a mess we all made, but everyone brave (or stupid!) enough to join in had a blast! Red, blue, yellow, green, a bit of sand sticking and lots of giggles later, we all grouped together and made a run for the river! Guess what... Green paint isn’t so easy to get off! Then it was into the showers and time to warm everyone up for the evening.
In the evenings, everyone enjoyed a beach party and flower-power theme party. What a trek to the party, though... A long walk up a steep hill later, we were ready for the music to start and dancing go on throughout the night.
As usual, YBN sat with the Dutch JNFN group but were pleased to welcome other nationalities to our group, too.
A big ‘thank you’ to the French for yet another great youth rally. I honestly feel as though we were all able to make new friends this year and build even stronger networks with other young naturists round Europe.
I look forward to next year’s rally which should be returning to Italy – I can’t wait to party again with our international friends.
Leah

Hectic weekend at Heritage

Hectic weekend at Heritage

We arrived to a warm welcome from the people at Heritage who helped us sign in before we desperately requested to know the direction of the bathroom – after an epic journey of all of 45 minutes!
Once all the tents were up, we headed to the pavilion for a night of karaoke. A lot of the crowd from YBN and the club were already up there. The drinks and conversation started to flow, with a few brave souls volunteering to sing (some being put up by “friends”). Soon there was an excellent rendition of ‘Man, I feel like a woman’ by Paul to the giggles of his adoring fans. As the evening developed, I ended up getting on stage as a supporting act! With the karaoke wrapped up, the YBNers expected to have to quieten down but that was not what the club had in mind. We all heard a shout of “everyone in the pool!!”; everyone looked round surprised then whipped off their clothes and dived in. An impromptu game of water volleyball which turned into water polo.
The next day we all got up to a lovely breakfast provided by the club. Throughout the day, there were various activities organised, ranging from water volleyball to steam room sessions and a trip to the shops to get food and drinks, which turned into a massive hunt for provisions for the glow disco in the evening. Upon returning we had volleyball games on the go and a slippery pole over the swimming pool for a Gladiator-style duel.
After a lovely evening meal provided by the club, all the YBNers ran off to prepare their outfits for the glow disco with the whole group drawing glow paint on each other – some were more skilled than others.
Heritage had put a massive effort into preparing the glow disco area and the whole club got in to the spirit of the evening. Plenty of drinking and dancing followed until the disco came to a close with a group of YBNers heading to the steam room to finish the night off with a bang. We piled in to sit down and watch our glow paint spill off (which we promise, we did clean up!) before everyone jumped in the shower, then headed back to the steam room for a impromptu karaoke session singing ‘The lion sleeps tonight...’Sunday was the volleyball victory day for YBN! Headline news, as YBN beat Heritage for once! Heritage put a massive effort into an amazing weekend and we all very much appreciated it. A big ‘thank you’ to the club and everyone who helped organise it.
Vicky