One of the most rewarding parts of research is seeing it lead to meaningful change.
I’m delighted to share Gateway to the Sea, a new knowledge exchange project that has grown directly from my doctoral research exploring the lived experiences of blind and partially sighted people accessing blue spaces.
Throughout my research, one message came through time and time again.
People wanted to experience the sea.
Many participants spoke about watching others swim from the shoreline, remembering childhood experiences in the water, or dreaming of trying sea swimming for the first time. Yet alongside that desire came a range of barriers including confidence, safety concerns, lack of information, inaccessible environments and simply not knowing where to begin.
Gateway to the Sea has been designed in response to those conversations.
Funded by the University of Brighton and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), the project brings together blind and partially sighted participants for a fully supported FREE introduction to open water swimming in Brighton.
The event has been developed in partnership with British Blind Sport, SwimTrek, Sea Lanes Brighton, Paralympian and English Channel swimmer Melanie Barratt, and The Red Foundation, whose generous sponsorship will provide participants with fantastic Gateway to the Sea merchandise and goody bags to take home.
Rather than simply introducing people to sea swimming, the day has been carefully designed to build confidence, create connections and provide the skills needed for participants to continue their open water swimming journeys long after the event has finished.
The day will include:
- A welcome and safety briefing
- Expert coaching from SwimTrek
- Pool-based confidence building
- A supported sea swim from Sea Lanes Beach
- A recovery session at Luna Sauna
- Opportunities to hear from Melanie Barratt about her own journey from Paralympic swimmer to English Channel swimmer
- Time to connect with other blind and partially sighted swimmers over refreshments and lunch
Importantly, Gateway to the Sea is intentionally small, allowing participants to receive personalised support throughout the day while creating opportunities to build a new community of open water swimmers.
For me, this project represents something much bigger than a single event.
It demonstrates how research can move beyond identifying barriers to co-creating practical opportunities alongside community partners. It is only through collaboration that ideas become reality, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be working with organisations that share a commitment to making blue spaces more inclusive and accessible.
I hope Gateway to the Sea is the first of many opportunities that enable more blind and partially sighted people to experience the physical, social and emotional benefits of open water swimming.
A huge thank you to everyone who has helped bring this project to life, particularly our partners at British Blind Sport, SwimTrek, Sea Lanes Brighton, The Red Foundation, and Melanie Barratt, whose enthusiasm, expertise and generosity have made this possible.
If you are blind or partially sighted and would like to take part, you can find full details and booking information on the British Blind Sport website here.
This is only the beginning, and I can’t wait to welcome everyone to the water.
