Monday January 12th 2026
Cold Water Therapist, Jenny Favell, before a cold plunge.
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
A non-profit community group has learnt to brave Scotland’s cold temperature, reaping benefits from cold water therapy.
The Cold Therapy Collective were recently successfull in gaining funding through the Midlothian Carer Communites Fund, which is supported by VOCAL.
Despite operating all over the central belt, the funding is to support the launch of the group’s Blue Project. Beginning in February and spanning 16 weeks, the project consists of guided sessions for unpaid carers living across Midlothian.
After being introduced to cold water swimming by her free-diving brother, founder of Cold Therapy Collective and Cold Water Therapist Jenny Favell fell in love with cold water therapy, reaping benefits from the cold in what she called ‘a lightbulb moment’.
Jenny explained: “My own experience was a major turning point – if not the defining catalyst – in my recovery, when nothing else seemed to help.
“I know this has been true for many others in the Cold Therapy Collective as well. It has the potential to help so many more people, and that is the mission: to give people the opportunity to try it, in case it might help them too.”
Discovering ‘the magic of cold water’ from her brother, this form of therapy was the catalyst for change after several months of mental health decline.
“My first dip silenced the brain chatter, flooded me with dopamine and I realised I had found a way through – a means of control”, she explained, “I know it sounds like a cliche but it really was a lightbulb moment for me as I realised I could control my brain and one of my first thoughts was I bet this could help a lot of people”.
Cold water therapy is described as intentionally immersing your body in cold water for short peridos to gain health benfits. This can nbe achicved by using methods like cold shpowers, ice baths or natural swims.
With the new found relief sparking an interest, Jenny began to research, studying cold water therapy until she became qualified in Cold Water Therapy, Open Water Safety and Rescue and Mental Health First Aid and Response.
“The business started somewhat accidentally as friends of friends were asking me to take them for a cold water dip but the objective was always to promote the reported transformative benefits of cold water, blue spaces and adventure”, Jenny explained.
A community group grew via the people that came to Jenny’s initial safety inductions, which she named the Cold Water Collective. Consisting of like-minded people who swam together in outdoor sessions, in June 2025 the Cold Water Collective became an unicorporater association – a not-for-proft community group with the purpose of trying to reach more people to provide an opportunity to be safety-informed about cold water therapy.
Supported by the carers charity VOCAL, Jenny is aiming to introduce the benefits that she discovered with hard working unpaid carers in Midlothian, offering free workshops.
The guided sessions are hosted at Harlaw Reservoir in Balerno will run on alternate Sunday’s from February to May:
– 1st and 15th of February
– 1st, 15th and 29th of March
– 26th of April
– 3rd of May
VOCAL are a Midlothian based voice for carers across the Lothians, supporting and empowering unpaid carers with funding support and events, such as their recent work supporting a project with Dalkeith Men’s Shed.
Each participant in the sessions will receive their own safety tow float and will receive an online educational induction.
Jenny explained that the project has been designed to ‘reduce isolation and loneliness’ and ‘encourage meaningful connections’, in the aim to help people safely access and enjoy nature.
She added: “While research into cold water therapy is still ongoing and no guarantees should be made, the majority of existing evidence points in a consistent direction. Many people report benefits such as improved stress management, balanced mood, reduced chronic pain, ease of menopausal symptoms and better sleep.
“My sessions are outdoors purposely to utilise the proven benefits of being in green and blue spaces. We swim with others and enjoy social time – often with cake – afterwards and this all emphasises the experience”
If you are an unpaid carer interested in cold water therapy, applicants should email thecoldwatertherapist@gmail.com, or if you are interested in hearing more about the Cold Therapy Collective click here.
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