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# Accessible Waters

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [News](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/blog/)
- [A Coast for All: From Research Conversations to the House of Commons](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/a-coast-for-all-from-research-conversations-to-the-house-of-commons/) - 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,
- [Access Begins Before the Water: A Visit to Pool Bridge Farm](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/access-begins-before-the-water-a-visit-to-pool-bridge-farm/) - There are some places that immediately make you stop and take everything in. Pool Bridge Farm, near York, is one of them. Set among trees, lakes and water lilies, it is a place designed around swimming, rest and connection with nature. It is also a place where the staff and volunteers are already thinking seriously
- [Stories of the Bay: Where Research Meets Story, Art and Community](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/stories-of-the-bay-where-research-meets-story-art-and-community/) - Sometimes the most meaningful conversations happen away from conference rooms and lecture theatres. Earlier this month, I was invited by artist Laura Callaghan and Sussex Bay to take part in Stories of the Bay – an evening held as part of Laura's What the Water Gave Us exhibition celebrating World Oceans Day. Rather than talks
- [Gateway to the Sea: When Research Becomes Reality](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/gateway-to-the-sea-when-research-becomes-reality/) - 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
- [Sharing the Story of Gateway to the Sea on RNIB Connect Radio](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/sharing-the-story-of-gateway-to-the-sea-on-rnib-connect-radio/) - Ahead of the launch of Gateway to the Sea, I was delighted to join Paralympian Melanie Barratt on RNIB Connect Radio to talk about the project and the importance of making open water swimming more accessible for blind and partially sighted people. Speaking with Allan Russell, we reflected on how Gateway to the Sea came
- [Introducing Gateway to the Sea: Turning Research into Action](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/introducing-gateway-to-the-sea-turning-research-into-action/) - 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
- [Exploring London's New National Open Water Swimming Centre](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/exploring-londons-new-national-open-water-swimming-centre/) - This month I was delighted to be invited to the launch of Sea Lanes Canary Wharf, London's new National Open Water Swimming Centre. Situated within Eden Dock at Canary Wharf, the new venue is centred around a 50-metre floating natural water swimming pool, creating a unique space where outdoor swimming, wellbeing and community come together
- [BBC Coverage Brings National Attention to Beach Accessibility](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/bbc-coverage-brings-national-attention-to-beach-accessibility/) - Following the launch of A Coast for All at the House of Commons, the conversation around beach accessibility has continued to gather momentum. In May 2026, the findings of the report were featured by the BBC, helping bring national attention to an issue that affects thousands of people across the UK every day. The coverage
- [New Free Shuttle Service Supporting Visually Impaired Swimmers at the National Open Water Swimming Centre](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/new-free-shuttle-service-supporting-visually-impaired-swimmers-at-the-national-open-water-swimming-centre/) - One of the most consistent barriers raised in conversations during my doctoral research has not actually been the swimming itself. It has been getting there. I’m therefore absolutely delighted to share a brilliant new initiative launching this Saturday 16th May, with Sea Lanes partnering with Brighton Community Transport to offer a free shuttle service for
- [A New Paper on Preparatory Participation and How Research Begins](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/a-new-paper-on-preparatory-participation-and-how-research-begins/) - I’m pleased to share that my latest paper has been published in Qualitative Research: “Preparatory Participation as Method: Reconceptualising Pre-Fieldwork Through Embodied and Relational Practice” You can read the full paper here:https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/14687941261442152 When Does Research Actually Begin? We often talk about research as though it begins when fieldwork starts. When interviews are scheduled, ethics are
- [Not Just the Ramp: A New Paper on Access and Blue Space Fieldwork](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/not-just-the-ramp-a-new-paper-on-access-and-blue-space-fieldwork/) - Access to blue spaces is often imagined as something simple. Build a ramp, widen a path, install the right infrastructure, and participation will follow. But time spent in, near, and around water tells a more complicated story. I’m very pleased to share that my latest paper has been published in Disability & Society: “Not just
- [Blue Space in UK Policy: Why These Conversations Matter](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/blue-space-in-uk-policy-why-these-conversations-matter/) - Last week I joined the Blue Space in UK Policy stakeholder workshop, hosted by the Environment Agency and Brunel University London. The meeting brought together a focused group of researchers, practitioners, and policy partners who are actively working to improve how blue spaces are understood, governed, and accessed across the UK. Rivers, seas, lakes, and
- [Fieldwork: A Pause, Not an End](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/fieldwork-a-pause-not-an-end/) - After months of swimming, walking, floating, and listening together, fieldwork has come to a close. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who shared their time, stories, and presence. Thank you for guiding me, trusting the process, and co-creating moments of care, laughter, and reflection in, near, and around water. This has never
- [BBC Breakfast Feature: Going Live with Accessible Waters](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/bbc-breakfast-feature-going-live-with-accessible-waters/) - Going live on national television wasn’t something I expected to do so early on the research journey — but being invited onto BBC Breakfast to talk about Accessible Waters was a real privilege. The conversation followed the recent VI-only swim session in Brighton, and gave space to reflect on the wider research: how people with
- [Visual Awareness Training at University of Brighton](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/visual-awareness-training-at-university-of-brighton/) - What does it mean to see the world differently and how can we build environments that respond to those differences with care, not exclusion? On 17 July 2025, with support from the University of Brighton Doctoral College, we hosted Sight Support Worthing (SSW) on campus to deliver a tailored visual awareness training session for postgraduate
- [Fieldwork Begins: Stories in Motion and Water](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/fieldwork-begins-stories-in-motion-and-water/) - What does it mean to gather data not just about people, but with them - in motion, in water, in real time? This July marked the start of my PhD fieldwork, exploring how people with visual impairments experience, access, and connect with blue space. Working closely with blind and partially sighted swimmers, I’ve begun a
- [Sea Lanes Launches VI Swim Sessions Following Research Pilot](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/sea-lanes-launches-vi-swim-sessions-following-research-pilot/) - What does change look like when research, community, and local leadership come together?
- [RNIB Connect Radio: “Open Water is For Everyone”](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/rnib-connect-radio-open-water-is-for-everyone/) - As part of the post-event ripple effect, I joined RNIB Connect Radio to talk about how open water swimming can — and should — be more accessible to people with sight loss. We discussed the practicalities of VI swim sessions, the emotional depth of water connection, and how space, trust, and interdependence matter. It was
- [BBC Access All Podcast: Talking Blue Space Access](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/bbc-access-all-podcast-talking-blue-space-access/) - The Access All podcast on BBC Sounds is known for thoughtful, grounded conversations around disability and access — so I was honoured to be invited on to discuss my work with visually impaired swimmers and blue space connection. The conversation covered everything from co-produced swim-along interviews to the joy of bobbing about with others in
- [VI Swim & Wellbeing Day at Sea Lanes Brighton](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/7234-2/) - What does it feel like to swim in a space shaped with you, not just for you? To feel welcomed, supported, and part of something — not watched, but witnessed? That was the atmosphere at Sea Lanes Brighton, the UK’s national open water swimming centre,where we hosted our first research-informed swim day exclusively for people
- [Speaking of Research: Podcast Launch](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/speaking-of-research-podcast-launch/) - Introduction It’s always a bit strange hearing your own voice in a podcast — but being invited to speak on Speaking of Research felt like an exciting chance to share some of what’s driving the Accessible Waters project. Story It’s always a bit strange hearing your own voice in a podcast — but being invited
- [Rethinking Health Methods at MSIG](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/rethinking-health-methods-at-msig/) - Research doesn’t always follow a clean path — and at the Health Methods Special Interest Group (MSIG) retreat in Birmingham, that truth was embraced. It was a rare opportunity to pause, reflect, and rethink how we navigate complexity in health research. Organised by the National Centre for Research Methods, the MSIG retreat brought together PhD
- [Pre-Fieldwork Reflections at Portsmouth](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/pre-fieldwork-reflections-at-portsmouth/) - The beginning of a research project doesn’t always feel like a beginning. Sometimes, it’s full of quiet logistics, invisible labour, and moments of uncertainty. That’s what we explored together at the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership’s Policy & Population cluster day. Held at the University of Portsmouth, the event brought together PhD researchers to reflect
- [Cumberland Lodge: Making Impact Matter](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/cumberland-lodge-making-impact-matter/) - Tucked into the grounds of Windsor Great Park, Cumberland Lodge hosted this year’s SCDTP residential on the theme of “Making Impact.” It was a space to consider how research connects with the world — and what kinds of impact we actually want to make. Over the course of the residential, I joined sessions on public
- [Exploring Preparatory Participation at RGS-IBG](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/exploring-preparatory-participation-at-rgs-ibg/) - Research often starts long before it’s visible. At this year’s RGS-IBG Mid-Term Conference, I had the chance to present on a concept that’s becoming central to my work: preparatory participation. This approach invites us to treat the pre-fieldwork phase not just as admin or planning — but as a relational, sensory, and ethical space. For
- [Bake, Speak, Share: RAKE Week Highlights ](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/bake-speak-share-rake-week-highlights/) - RAKE Week is always a highlight on the University of Brighton calendar — and this year didn’t disappoint. From formal panels to informal conversations, it was a chance to explore what inclusive, impactful research really looks like. I co-presented with Dr Catherine Kelly on communicating research to non-academic audiences — something I’ve done through public
- [Community Conversations at The Bevy](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/community-conversations-at-the-bevy/) - The Bevy isn’t just a pub — it’s a space for dialogue, learning, and community. I was grateful to be invited to speak there alongside Dr Catherine Kelly as part of the “Brains at the Bevy” series. We explored how different communities — human and more-than-human — experience blue spaces, and what it means to
- [Disability Culture Symposium: Shared Reality](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/disability-culture-symposium-shared-reality/) - There’s something powerful about coming together around shared questions — especially when they’re about culture, care, and how we live with and within disability. The inaugural Models to Realities symposium, hosted by the Disability Culture Research Group (DisCReg), brought together researchers and allies to explore what it means to move beyond static models of disability.
- [Blueish Transitions: Presenting at NGM 2024 ](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/blueish-transitions-presenting-at-ngm-2024/) - There’s a shared language in water — even when we speak from different disciplines, places, or perspectives. That felt especially clear at NGM 2024 in Copenhagen. I was honoured to present within the Blueish Transitions session, curated by Dr Moritz Albrecht and Dr Gabriella Palermo. My talk explored how people with visual impairment navigate and
- [Sharing Sensory Inequalities in Research](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/sharing-sensory-inequalities-in-research/) - EDI (equality, diversity, and inclusion) often risks becoming abstract — but the EDI in Research Conference at Brighton grounded these ideas in real lives and urgent questions. I presented on Sensory Inequalities and Access to Blue Space, drawing on how the Accessible Waters project engages with lived experience and embodied knowledge. My focus was on
- [Chairing Conversations on Intersectionality ](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/chairing-conversations-on-intersectionality/) - At the South Coast DTP residential, I was invited to chair a roundtable exploring intersectionality in critical disability studies.
- [Recognition at the Brighton Showcase](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/recognition-at-the-brighton-showcase/) - Sharing your research with peers, staff, and wider audiences can be nerve-wracking — but also incredibly energising. At the University of Brighton’s Research and Knowledge Exchange Showcase, I was invited to speak about my ESRC-funded PhD on blue spaces, accessibility, and wellbeing. The event celebrated diverse forms of research impact and public engagement — and

## Pages

- [Homepage](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/) - Accessible Waters is a research project that delves into the experiences of visually impaired people as they connect with blue spaces—coasts, rivers, and lakes—and the impact these environments have on their wellbeing. It explores the interdependence between people, place, and access, highlighting both the possibilities and barriers that shape these experiences.
- [Contact](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/contact/) - Participant recruitment is now open! If you have a visual impairment and enjoy swimming outdoors or visiting blue spaces in England, we’d love to hear from you.
- [Research Methods](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/methods/) - Research Methods Accessible Waters uses creative, inclusive, and collaborative research methods to explore how people with visual impairment experience blue spaces. The approach is shaped by care, consent, and conversation - recognising that meaningful participation takes time, trust, and flexibility. The research involves a series of in-depth interviews and sensory engagements with participants who have
- [About](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/about/) - The Project is Funded By

## Portfolio

- [G’woon](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/project/gwoon/) - For this production, creator Thirza Schaap teamed up with Joeri Janssen, art director at Roorda to co-direct the films. Thirza also handled the photography. Source: fatfred.nl
- [New Zealand - Travel Video](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/project/christchurch-kia-kaha-new-zealand/) - Surprise ! New video - this is pretty much a compilation of some of the best shots we collected whilst travelling for 3 weeks around the South Island of New Zealand when New Zealand's boarders opened up to Australia. I wasn't actually going to finish this video but the footage was too good not to
- [Ivory Fly Style](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/project/ivory-fly-style/) - Copyright Ivory Productions GmbH & Co. KG
- [Porsche Macan](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/project/porsche-macan/) - The GTS Community is dedicated to collect the most beautiful routes around the globe. In our new video series, we teamed up with travel blogger Courtney Scott to drive the best-rated routes as voted by the community. Get a taste in this video. Combined fuel consumption in accordance with EU 6: Macan GTS: 9.2-8.8 l/100
- [Finlandia](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/project/finlandia/) - A film I shot 4 years ago during the photoshoot of the photographer Pierre Winther for Finlandia Vodka.Dop/Edit/Post - Kendy
- [Tendance Roadster](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/project/tendance-roadster/) - A small film about my friends from Tendance Roadster. They are a Royal Enfield & Mash motorcycles dealership in Levallois-Perret near Paris.
- [BLVL - Emotion](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/project/blvl-emotion/)
- [BLVL - Internal Heights](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/project/blvl-internal-heights/)
- [Rendez-Vous at Mumbai](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/project/rendez-vous-at-mumbai/) - A mysterious girl have a rendez-vous with a mysterious man in Mumbai.WithLonginus FernandesAafreen Vaz Direction/DOP/Edit/Color gradeKendy Ty Musics and sound designAdrien Drich Sahuc and Benjamin Sahuc (Grand Soleil Music)

## Categories

- [News](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/category/news-post/)

## Tags

- [Intersectionality](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/tag/intersectionality/)
- [Inequality](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/tag/inequality/)

## Categories

- [Commercial](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/portfolio/commercial/)
- [Music](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/portfolio/music/)
- [Shortfilms](https://accessiblewaters.co.uk/portfolio/shortfilms/)