Inclusion and accessibility are at the core of the first non-profit community sauna centre in Sussex County, according to the director.
Stanmer Sauna Gardens in Brighton, East Sussex, opened in 2023 and is believed to be the second not-for-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 an abandoned piece of public land in Stanmer Park.
They say the sauna has become a popular new addition to Stanmer thanks to variable fees and the involvement of 60 volunteers.
“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 something that involves drinking that has its own meaning, but it’s a space where people can come together and socialize over a really enjoyable activity,” 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 saunas to refugees.
“The sauna is a really quick and easy place and it really helps us support the healing process,” she said.
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