Ambassadors
Stephen Dickson, (right) with the legend Shane Williams (not yet an ambassador) at Tenby Rocks earlier in the year!
Stephen Dickson, Beat the Tide CEO and 1st ambassador (right)
Stephen Dickson is the founder of Beat the Tide, a not‑for‑profit beach festival and Community Interest Company based at Pendine Sands in West Wales, using live music events to tackle suicide and support better mental health across the region.
A veteran promoter best known for his work on Brighton's Mammothfest metal festival, he brings decades of grassroots music, community outreach and event‑management experience to building safer, more connected communities.
As resident DJ at TENBY ROCKS in Tenby every Saturday, Steve has amassed an incredible following of people who enjoy nothing more than to dance to gorgeous music in the sun on a Saturday afternoon. It is so good for the soul and certainly plays a part in beating back the tide of poor mental health.
Having lost his mother to suicide in 2019 and experienced the loss of many friends to suicide throughout the years, it became too much to just sit back and watch current systems continue to fail to stop this epidemic.
It needs to stop. It is too painful now but it can be prevented.
Gary Hicks,
Former Newport RFC hooker and stalwart of the front row, brings his passion for Welsh rugby and community sport to Beat the Tide as our very first sporting icon ambassador.
After nine seasons in the Newport first team and spells with Cross Keys and Pontypool, Gary now channels that same grit and commitment into inspiring the next generation, making him the perfect figurehead for our campaign to beat the tide of mental health crises and suicide.
As a highly respected sportsman, Hicks will be actively promoting our Beat the Tide events, encouraging other sporting inspirations to become ambassadors, attend our events and most importantly, help us to spread the ultimate message that "you can beat your own tide", you can find life after crisis and we will be rugby tackling the suicide stigma head on with strong bold conversations about what suicide is and how it CAN be beaten.
Our massive thanks to Gary for taking the bold step to lead by example here and for your incredible support recently.
Gary Hicks (Left) at his peak!
If you wish to become an ambassador please email us below: