There are moments in research that stay with you long after the papers have been written or the presentations have finished. They are the moments that remind you why the research began in the first place and why it matters beyond academia.
Last weekend was one of those moments.
Gateway to the Sea brought together blind and partially sighted people from across the country to experience open water swimming in a safe, welcoming and fully supported environment. For some, it was their first time swimming in the sea. Others were returning to something they had once loved but no longer felt able to access independently. Watching people gain confidence in the water, encourage one another and simply enjoy being by the sea was an incredibly special experience.
(With sincere thanks to Melanie Barratt for kindly allowing the use of her video footage within this film.)
Rather than beginning in one place, Gateway to the Sea developed over the past two years through my PhD research at the University of Brighton and through conversations happening simultaneously across the wider community, with many people independently asking how access to the sea could become more inclusive.
Listening to lived experience
Over the past two years, my doctoral research has explored how blind and partially sighted people experience swimming pools, lakes, rivers and coastal environments, and what shapes opportunities to access these spaces.
These conversations were never only about swimming. People spoke about transport, confidence, companionship, changing facilities, information, equipment and the planning often required before even reaching the shoreline. They also spoke about the joy of being in and around water, and the frustration that opportunities to experience it could feel so limited.
As the research progressed, an important question emerged: how might these conversations move beyond identifying barriers and begin creating opportunities?.
Building something together
Around the same time, it became clear that similar conversations were unfolding elsewhere. British Blind Sport and Paralympic swimmer Melanie Barratt were hearing many of the same aspirations from blind and partially sighted swimmers. Through those shared conversations, I reached out to Melanie and SwimTrek Adventure Swimming Holidays to explore what might be possible if we brought these ideas together.
What followed was a genuine collaboration between the University of Brighton, British Blind Sport, SwimTrek, Sea Lanes Brighton, Melanie Barratt and Red Equipment. Each partner brought different expertise, experience and generosity, creating an inclusive open water swimming experience where accessibility was considered from the very beginning.
Participants heard Melanie speak honestly about her own experiences before learning open water skills in the pool alongside SwimTrek coaches. Supported by experienced swim guides, they then entered the sea at their own pace, with time to build confidence, ask questions and simply enjoy being in the water.
Every organisation contributed something different, and it was that collaboration that made the day possible. Accessibility was considered throughout the planning process, with each partner helping to shape an environment where people could participate in ways that felt comfortable and meaningful to them.
Looking beyond the event
What has stayed with me most is not one particular moment, but the atmosphere that developed across the day. There was laughter, encouragement, quiet determination and an overwhelming willingness to support one another. New friendships were formed, experiences were shared and confidence grew naturally as the day unfolded.
The feedback has been incredibly moving. Several participants have already spoken about feeling more confident to continue sea swimming independently, while others have booked onto the regular visually impaired swimming sessions now taking place every Saturday at Sea Lanes Brighton. The introduction of a free shuttle service is also helping to address one of the barriers identified repeatedly throughout the research: transport.
Seeing ideas discussed during interviews become opportunities that people can continue to access beyond the research itself has been particularly rewarding.
Looking ahead
Gateway to the Sea was always intended as the beginning of a wider conversation about inclusive access to open water.
Following the response to the Brighton pilot, discussions are already underway about how the project might develop into a sustainable national programme, enabling many more blind and partially sighted people to experience the physical, social and emotional benefits of open water swimming.
For me, Gateway to the Sea demonstrates what can happen when research, lived experience and partnership come together around a shared purpose. Research can help us understand barriers, but it can also create opportunities to work collectively towards removing them.
My sincere thanks go to every participant, partner, volunteer and supporter who helped make Gateway to the Sea possible. This project belongs to all of you, and I am excited to see where the journey leads next.
