Date: 13/06/2025
🌊 SCDTP Researcher Sadie Rockcliffe Gains National Spotlight for Inclusive Blue Spaces Project
We are delighted to share that SCDTP researcher Sadie Rockcliffe has received significant media attention for her impactful work on making blue spaces such as seas, lakes, and pools more accessible for people with sight loss.
Sadie recently led an inclusive open water swimming session in Brighton, which sparked strong interest both locally and nationally. Her work was featured in BBC local news and also covered on BBC South and ITV Meridian, where she proudly wore her SCDTP hoodie.
Most recently, Sadie appeared live on BBC Breakfast to discuss the event and her wider research.
“It was a brilliant opportunity to share the project nationally,” she shared. “I’ve received messages from visually impaired people across the country thanking us for the approach and offering to take part in future sessions. It’s already helping to shape how I think about the next phases of the work, especially around participant-led questions and methods.”
Several journalists have expressed interest in revisiting the project in six months, suggesting the potential for long-term impact.
The University of Brighton has also published a feature on Sadie’s work with the visually impaired swimming community. This was a wonderful surprise and a much-needed moment of uplifting news.
📖 Read the article: https://www.brighton.ac.uk/news/2025/pioneering-new-project-explores-inclusive-open-water-swimming-with-visually-impaired-community
📺 Watch the BBC coverage: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cxggzjqkz7ko
🌐 Learn more about Sadie’s research: https://www.accessiblewaters.co.uk
Congratulations to Sadie for her outstanding outreach and for advancing inclusive research that is already making a difference.
