Naturism in the 21st century is being increasingly driven by the internet, thanks to social media such as Facebook and Twitter and niche websites such as Naked Vegan Cooking (www.nakedvegancooking.com)
This phenomenon is explored in a documentary called ‘My Daughter, the Teenage Nudist’ to be broadcast on Thursday January 12.
British Naturism are delighted to have been fully involved with this excellent film. We worked closely throughout 2011 with ZKK, the production company, helping them to find people and places to show how social nudity is becoming much more common - even if in a more casual way - and amongst younger people.
BN’s commercial manager, Andrew Welch, said: “We were happy to help out with a film that really gives an insight into the new naturist world. Social nudity is not just for people of a certain age group and young people like the stars of this film, Molly, Alex and Daryl, are taking it to places where traditional naturism has rarely been and challenging conventional thought.
“Our recent survey, conducted for us by Ipsos Mori, showed that around 3.7 million people in the United Kingdom consider themselves to be naturists.
‘My Daughter, the Teenage Nudist’ goes out on Channel 4 at 10pm on Thursday January 12.
Mollie, Alex and Daryl are all available for interview
Notes for Editors
- British Naturism (BN) is the UK’s officially recognised naturist organisation. It exists to support and unite naturists around the UK and will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2014, although its predecessors were in existence since the 1930s.
- A survey conducted in the autumn of 2011 by Ipsos Mori shows that there are 3.7 million naturists in the UK
- Amongst the aims of BN are to campaign for more places to be made available for naturism and to protect naturists against discrimination and Victorian attitudes to the human body.
- Fact – in law, there is no offence of nudity. Various pieces of legislation and common law are often mentioned in connection with naturism but they are not relevant.
- In the UK, there are over 130 sun clubs, swim clubs and holiday resorts and many “officially designated” naturist beaches, with many others used regularly by naturists. Membership of BN is around 10,500 people with many more being members of clubs affiliated to BN. There are also thousands of UK naturists who enjoy holidays and beaches in the UK and abroad without being members of recognised naturist organisations.
- YBN (Young British Naturists) has a membership of young men and women between the ages of 18 and 30 who get together at clubs and beaches many weekends. They represent the UK at the International Naturist Federation (INF) Youth Rally held annually
- Naturism is good for you. Naturists report improvements in well-being, stress, chronic illness, self-esteem and body image. It’s also a sensible choice of dress when the weather is warm. Naturists are normal people. The only difference between activities inside and outside of naturism is the dress code.
- It is a fallacy to believe that naked children are any more at risk of abuse in a naturist environment. In addition, unaccompanied children are not permitted in naturist places and the community spirit that pervades ensures that a watchful eye is present. Despite the perception, there are far fewer problems in naturism than in more “public” places where children and adults mix. Mindful of the need to be aware of child safeguarding issues, however, BN have a robust child safeguarding policy, code of practice, and a Child Safeguarding sub-committee that meets regularly and runs workshops on the subject, sometimes to groups from outside the naturist world.
- For the media, there is a dedicated “Media Centre” at https://www.bn.org.uk/media, which contains useful information for those wishing to write about naturism or to feature this wonderful world in their publications or programmes