Inclusion and accessibility are at the heart of Sussex’s first not-for-profit community sauna centre, says CEO.
Stanmer Sauna Gardens in Brighton, East Sussex, is set to open in 2023 and is expected to be the second non-profit public sauna in the UK.
Bella Kirkus, director of Stanmer Sauna Gardens Community Interest Company, which runs the site, said she was inspired by the Hackney Wick public baths, which Community Sauna runs.
“They make affordable saunas available to as many people as possible across the country, but their role is to educate people about saunas and make them more inclusive and accessible,” she said.
The idea for the self-contained sauna came to her and Katie Bratcher after they discovered a community site in Stanmer Park had been abandoned.
They say the sliding price scale and the help of 60 volunteers make the sauna a welcome addition to Stanmer.
“Everyone has a special place in their heart for Stanmer, but culturally it is much more diverse than people think,” Ms Kirkes said.
Ms Freeman-Birch said the “only reason” for her interest in saunas and crafts was to improve her mental health.
“It’s an alternative to going to a bar or doing drinking activities that have a purpose, but it’s a space where people can meet, socialize and have a really good time,” she said.
Sauna guru Natalie Campo recently co-hosted a workshop at Stanmer Sauna Garden to raise money for Sauna Aid, a charity that provides sauna services to refugees.
“The sauna is a very comfortable and quick place and it really helps us recover,” she said.
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