A year ago, I found myself sitting in a recording studio speaking on the BBC Access All podcast about a question that has shaped much of my doctoral research:
Who gets to access blue spaces, and what makes that possible or impossible?
The conversation focused on my research alongside visually impaired participants exploring outdoor swimming, coastal environments, and diverse ways of experiencing water. We spoke about access, independence, transport, confidence, infrastructure, companionship, safety, and the many forms of labour that often remain invisible when people talk about “getting outdoors”.
Also taking part in the interview was Will Behenna, founder of the Beach Access Project.
That conversation became the beginning of a collaboration that would ultimately lead to the publication of A Coast for All: Barriers and Opportunities for Inclusive Beach Access, a national report exploring the experiences of disabled people, people living with long-term health conditions, older adults, carers, families, and others navigating access to beaches across the UK.
Produced through a partnership between the Beach Access Project and the University of Brighton, the project was supported through funding secured with Dr Catherine Kelly. The report draws on findings from the Beach Access Project’s national survey, which received 1,071 responses from across the UK, including disabled people, individuals living with long-term health conditions, and people responding on behalf of family members, friends, or those they support.
I subsequently led the development and authorship of the report, synthesising the survey findings, lived experiences and contributions from the wider collaboration into recommendations aimed at supporting more inclusive coastal access across the UK.
While beaches are often imagined as open and accessible environments, the findings reveal a more complicated reality. Participants described barriers relating to parking, pathways, toilets, changing facilities, information, transport, equipment, confidence, and the cumulative effort often required simply to reach the shoreline.
At the same time, the survey highlighted a strong desire to access coastal environments and identified examples of innovation, good practice, and community-led solutions already making a meaningful difference around the world.
What emerged most strongly was a simple but powerful message:
Access is not a single feature. It is a journey.
The report argues that improving coastal access requires us to think beyond ramps alone and instead consider the full experience of reaching, using and enjoying coastal environments….including getting into the water, rather than just watching from the sidelines!
In May 2026, the findings were launched at the House of Commons during a policy event hosted by Andy MacNae MP. Bringing together parliamentarians, policymakers, researchers, charities, community organisations, practitioners, accessibility advocates, Paralympic champions and people with lived experience of accessibility barriers, the event provided a platform for discussing the report’s findings and recommendations and the practical steps needed to improve coastal accessibility across the UK.
The launch created opportunities for dialogue between those experiencing barriers first-hand and those responsible for shaping policy, services and environments. It was a powerful reminder that meaningful change is most likely when lived experience, research, practice and policy are brought together in the same room and afforded equal value..
The response has been overwhelmingly positive.
Since the launch, the report has attracted interest from policymakers, national organisations, accessibility advocates and coastal stakeholders, generating further invitations to contribute to parliamentary discussions and constituency-based conversations about accessibility, inclusion and blue space policy.
For me, the project represents something I care deeply about: research that moves beyond identifying barriers and instead works collaboratively with communities, organisations and decision-makers to create change.
The House of Commons launch may have been an important milestone, but it is not the destination.
The real work lies in the conversations, partnerships and actions that follow.
Using the Report
If you are involved in a community group, local authority, coastal organisation, charity, accessibility initiative, tourism body, or blue space project, I would encourage you to download and use the report within your own work and local discussions.
The findings and recommendations are intended to support practical conversations about how coastal spaces can become more welcoming, inclusive and accessible for everyone.
If you would like to discuss the findings in more detail, explore how they might apply within your own setting, or would like support facilitating conversations around inclusive coastal access, please feel free to get in touch.
Meaningful change often begins with a conversation, and I would be delighted to help wherever I can.
Download the Report
You can download the full A Coast for All report here
My sincere thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, contributed to the survey, supported the project, attended the launch, and continues to work towards creating a coast for all.towards creating a coast for all.