Porthcawl Museum
Museum volunteers explain how much of the collection is hidden from public view, the work involved in caring for it, and the moment in 2012 when the building faced closure after council cuts.
A Porthcawl tradition since 1965
Every Christmas morning, more than a thousand fancy-dress swimmers take the plunge at Sandy Bay, cheered on by thousands of spectators
Since 1965, the Porthcawl Christmas Morning Swim has brought generations of families and friends together while raising more than £175,000 for good causes. Today, we are proud to be a registered charity, awarding grants to local charities and community organisations so the generosity inspired by the Swim can make a lasting difference.
Register
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Opens 1 October 2026
Sign up for the 2026 swim
Christmas morning, Thursday 25 December 2026. Everyone is welcome — all abilities, fancy dress strongly encouraged.
- When Registration from 10:30 am, swim at 11:45 am
- Where The Hi-Tide Inn & Sandy Bay, Porthcawl
Registration opens in
21 days
Come back on 1 October 2026 to sign up.
Donate
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Every pound becomes a local grant
Make a donation
The Porthcawl Christmas Morning Swim is a registered charity, run entirely by volunteers. Every pound you give goes straight back out as grants to local charities, community groups and good causes around Porthcawl.
Porthcawl Christmas Morning Swim is a registered charity in England and Wales, no. 1217800.
Website sponsorship
This space is available
The Porthcawl Christmas Morning Swim website is looking for a sponsor for the 2026 season. Thousands of local people visit in the weeks before Christmas — put your business here and support a registered charity at the same time.
See sponsorship optionsWho it helps
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Why we raise it
The swim has always been about the town looking after its own. Money raised from the swim goes straight back out to local charities and community organisations across Porthcawl and the surrounding area — more than £175,000 since 1965, with the volunteers who run it deciding each year where it will do the most good.
In their words
Sandville Self Help Foundation
Founded by Sister Gwyneth Poacher to bring together people living with cancer and other serious conditions. Today it supports people with cancer, MND, Parkinson’s, MS, dementia, stroke recovery and other neurological conditions.
Porthcawl Male Voice Choir
Founded in 1980, with roots in the early days of the swim through Arlon “Coco” Owens. Funds raised go on to support other local charities and organisations.
Recently supported
- Alzheimer’s Society Cymru
- Porthcawl Male Voice Choir
- Porthcawl Museum
- Guide Dogs Cymru
- Porthcawl First Responders
- Fire Fighters Charity
- Porthcawl Girl Guides
- Porthcawl RNLI
- Sandville Self Help
- Porthcawl Coastguards
- Porthcawl Lifeguards
- Newton Lifeguards
- Porthcawl Stroke Club
- Porthcawl & Pyle Boxing Club
- Trinity Care & Support
- Porthcawl RFC Seagulls
- Pyle & Kenfig Hill Bowls Club
- Marine Debris
- British Heart Foundation
- Tŷ Llidiard
- Porthcawl Rotary Club
Fundraise
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£175,000+ raised since 1965
Swim for good causes
We're a registered charity now (no. 1217800). Set up a JustGiving page, get your friends, family or workmates to sponsor you, and every pound goes back out as grants to local charities and good causes.
- Two minutes to set up
- Swim solo or rally a team
- Every penny stays local
The Porthcawl Christmas Morning Swim has a long and proud history dating back to 1965