University of Brighton research project reimagines blue spaces for visually impaired swimmers

Led by researcher Sadie Rockliffe from the School of Business and Law, the project is attracting national interest and focuses on making blue spaces – such as seas, lakes, and pools – more welcoming and accessible to people with sight loss.

The first inclusive swim session took place on Wednesday 11 June at Sea Lanes Brighton, the UK’s national open water swimming centre, and included exclusive use of the pool, a wellbeing workshop, and space for reflection.

Designed in collaboration with Sight Support Worthing, and funded by the University of Brighton’s Centre for Arts and Wellbeing, the session forms part of Sadie’s wider research into inclusive wellbeing and accessibility in nature-based spaces. The project aims to challenge the assumption that blue spaces are primarily visual environments, and instead highlight the importance of other sensory forms of connection – including touch, rhythm, movement, and sound.

The swim session was co-designed with members of the visually impaired community, centring their lived experience to rethink how wellbeing activities can be made more accessible. A distinctive element of Sadie’s work is her “swim-along methodology”, where she joins participants in the water to explore their real-time experiences of safety, connection, and wellbeing.

“Blue spaces have incredible potential to support wellbeing, but access isn’t equal,” said Sadie. “Nature and wellness spaces are often designed with sight in mind – assuming visual appreciation as the main form of engagement. But many people, even sighted swimmers, close their eyes in the water. My research explores how blue spaces can be experienced through touch, sound, rhythm, and movement, but also through the materials and supports that make interdependence possible. It’s not just about swimming – it’s about creating space for people to explore and enjoy something many take for granted, in ways that feel welcoming, supported, and open to different ways of being.”

Following the swim, a wellbeing workshop was led by Sadie’s PhD supervisor Dr Catherine Kelly, Senior Lecturer and expert in blue space wellbeing. Dr Kelly, who serves on the executive board of the Sussex UNESCO Biosphere: The Living Coast and works with the Environment Agency’s National Blue Space Forum, researches how natural water bodies can enhance mental and physical health.

“We often think of nature as something that just ‘is’ – something we all access in the same way. But that’s not true. This project invites us to rethink how we design natural experiences and to recognise that people engage through many different sensory channels, highlighting the often-overlooked challenges that people with sensory disabilities face when trying to access blue space wellbeing activities.”

The project has received widespread attention, with coverage by BBC News, ITV News Meridian, and The Argus helping to raise awareness about sensory accessibility and inclusive design. These platforms have highlighted the importance of Sadie’s research in bringing the voices of visually impaired people into conversations about nature, health, and wellbeing.

Sadie’s PhD is supported by the Economic and Social Research Council’s South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership (ESRC SCDTP) – a multi-institutional programme training the next generation of social scientists.