Brighton naturist beach gets sponsored by Voy for summer

Brighton’s naturist beach has partnered with digital healthcare provider Voy for a campaign running from May 12 until July 14 to promote body confidence and reduce body shame.

The campaign is supported by free beach gear and community backing.

Voy's sponsorship aims to make the beach more welcoming for newcomers and regular visitors alike.

The company wants to use the space to challenge body stigma and celebrate all bodies, encouraging people to enjoy the beach without shame.

Voy are promoting body positivity (Image: Voy)

Dr Earim Chaudry, chief medical officer at Voy, said: "For many, especially younger people, the beach or a summer holiday is not a place of freedom, but exposure.

"Instead of relaxation, it can trigger self-consciousness and anxiety, turning moments that should be joyful into experiences to dread or avoid altogether."

As part of the sponsorship, branded merchandise including sun loungers, deck chairs, towels, tote bags, and yoga mats are available for free from May 23 on a first-come, first-served basis from Bison Beach Bar.

The campaign follows findings from the Voy Health Index report, Unembarrassing Bodies, which reveal that more than one in six Britons feel stressed wearing swimwear, and 15 per cent avoid beaches and pools altogether for this reason.

Voy say that lots of Brits are 'embarrassed' by their bodies (Image: Voy)

The survey, conducted by OnePoll in February, gathered responses from 15,000 adults across the UK.

The research also found that 82 per cent of people feel embarrassed or self-conscious about their bodies, with 68 per cent saying this affects many aspects of their daily lives, including clothing choices, social activities, and work.

In response to these findings, Voy has partnered with the naturist communities Naturist UK and Worldwide and Naturist UK and Beyond, who together represent nearly 20,000 naturists across the UK.

These groups have helped develop the sponsorship and have offered practical advice for anyone interested in trying naturism.

Their tips for embracing a naturist lifestyle include starting slowly by removing layers at home, building confidence through gradual exposure, and focusing on shared experiences rather than appearance.

They also recommend staying hydrated, using sunscreen, and always bringing a towel.

The partnership between Voy and the naturist beach will run until July 14 (Image: Voy)

A spokesperson for Naturist UK and Worldwide and Naturist UK and Beyond said: "For us, naturism is a normal, everyday way of being.

"It encourages people to feel comfortable in their own skin and creates a welcoming, supportive space where everyone can truly be themselves.

"It’s wonderful to see our stigma-free way of life being embraced, and we look forward to welcoming even more newcomers to the beach this summer."

The sponsorship is also about normalising nudity in public spaces and demonstrating that beaches can be inclusive environments.

Voy believes the beach can be a powerful setting to challenge harmful ideas about bodies and promote self-acceptance.

The sponsorship will remain in place for two months and aims to support both seasoned naturists and those trying it for the first time.