Beach Access Project

08/09/2025

We have just hit 805 Beach Access Survey responses. The survey closes in 22days, can we get to 1000!!!!!

08/09/2025

I did a podcast with Access Cornwall talking about the Beach Access Project.

https://www.mixcloud.com/CHBNRadio/access-cornwall-on-sunday-31st-august-2025-at-1000/

26/08/2025

Great to see this in Devon.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/164yo6ffav/

25/08/2025

The Beach Access Audit is now live and available to complete.

This enables you to go to your local beach and complete a Beach Access Audit using your mobile phone. This Audit is designed to empower people with a passion for making Beaches and Blue Space inclusive and accessible for everyone.

It will take about 30minutes to complete and will be added to a map so everyone can see your Audit.

This is the first time a National Beach Access Audit has been done, so we are making history. I am deeply indebted to you for your committment to this project.

The Process
Step 1 Get to the beach and open your phone
Step 2 Either click on this link https://form.jotform.com/wbehenna/beach-access-audit-UK OR go to https://beachaccessproject.co.uk/beach-access-audit/ and Click on the blue box. The audit will open on your phone.
step 3 Complete the audit by answering questions, ticking boxes and uploading photos
step 4 Submit your beach access audit.

Here is a link to a short video about usig your phone to complete the audit. https://youtu.be/pAMcaGAIJZ8
If you have any questions or queries give me a ring on 07813641958

Alternatively, (a slightly more complicated option) you can print off a copy of the beach access audit (8 pages). Go to the beach, answer all the questions and take the photos and then complete the beach access audit on a laptop at home. to do this click on this link https://beachaccessproject.co.uk/beach-access-audit/ and scroll down to the text and click on the orange box. You will need to upload your photos into the beach access audit.

24/06/2025

Throughout April and May I've been working with an amazing group of students from Bournemouth University media productions department. One of the groups has produced a beach access project documentary. click on the link to have a look https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3D85a4ewFJQ They have all done an amazing job. Like to thank them for their passion and professionalism and giving this project a real boost...

This documentary looks at the issues around beach access in Bournemouth and across the UK. Uncovering public opinions and providing insight into beach access...

16/06/2025

180 people have now responded to the survey, which is amazing. Thanks to everyone who has shared their views and becomes a beach access champion. Please continue to share the survey and encourage more people to fill it out. The more responses the more evidence we will have to justify the changes needed to make beaches and blue space more accessible for everyone👍👍🤙🤙🤙😁😁

03/06/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Ain3nzWao/

03/06/2025

Beach Access Project Survey Launch

Today the beach access project is launching the beach access survey which invites people with medical / mental health conditions and disabilities, family members and organisations that work with / and support them, to fill out the beach access survey and share their experiences and challenges related to accessing the beaches environment in the UK.

click https://form.jotform.com/wbehenna/beach-access-project-survey-2025 to fill out the beach access survey or go to

The survey aims to
• Understanding peoples current beach access experiences.
• Identifying what improvements need to be made.
• And if those improvements would enable more people to visit the beach.

The results from the beach access survey will hopefully help shape future policies and infrastructure investments to ensure that UK beaches become more accessible, inclusive, and sustainable for all.

Please can you share this survey with your organisation, networks, and individuals, and support the Beach Access Project vision of “enhancing and improving beach access to enable people with medical/mental health conditions and disabilities to play a meaningful and active role in beach life and blue space.”

click https://form.jotform.com/wbehenna/beach-access-project-survey-2025 to fill out the beach access survey or go to www.beachaccessproject.co.uk to find out more.

Background
The Beach Access Project was setup by Will Behenna, a designer, paddleboarder and wheelchair user based in Dorset.
Having set up inclusivepaddleboarding.co.uk in 2023, he became increasingly aware that access to the beach / sea and other blue space, to go paddleboarding was extremely limited.

He is passionate about enabling people with medical / mental health conditions and disabilities to get out paddleboarding on the water.
Beach access in the UK varies enormously and there are many challenges to consider including the weather, tides, and environment. However, he believes we can do much better to enable everyone to play a meaningful and active role in beach life and blue space.

29/05/2025

https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/24900092.new-east-preston-beach-boardwalk-almost-ready-open/

A seaside community has taken it upon themselves to install a boardwalk on their local beach, to allow better accessibility for all

25/04/2025

Wow! Just wow! Fantastic website from Nicki Palmer and team. Showcasing the level of detail we shoukd provide at our beaches to help everyone access our beaches. This is what we need across the country:

https://accessforallbeaches.org.uk/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ4vH9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHlDqRFgr3niUPBZF4icg-f4xPE0XFahs79wZFOMl-euNspj61RYqaW9dnHAT_aem_7AQZvQqnlTRboB1iWrckvQ

Planning a beach trip shouldn’t be a guessing game. That’s why we’ve created our free online checker tool, designed to put essential accessibility information right at your fingertips.

24/04/2025

When you meet one person with disabilities - you've met 'one' person. TRUE

Yesterday I met up with Will Behenna, on the Beach Access Project at West Bay in Dorset.

We had a high-energy planning session, sharing ideas, mapping stakeholders - and making a big decision we believe will boost the project's speed and outcomes. More on that coming soon. > >

🏖 West Bay is a beach that enhances beach accessibility in peak season.

Take a look at the signage in the second image. It’s pretty typical of what you’ll see at many beaches or on visitor websites. It includes:

+ Choice of 3 different beach wheelchair designs available for hire.
+ Beach with matting for wheelchair and buggy access.

☝️ I want to invite you to look again at this information, as it is (I'm not asking what additional accessibility could be added here):

💡 What's missing from this information?
💡 How could this information be improved?

As someone for whom accessibility is the No.1 priority.

If you don't have any disabilities or medical conditions that can make accessing beaches a challenge, think of someone you know that does - when you answer this.

👇 We'd love to hear your ideas, or any examples of best practice you've seen elsewhere in the UK, or abroad. Videos and photos also welcome!

🎦 Share it with us via a message here. After reviewing (please bear with us if this isn't instant), we'll share it on this page. N.B. If you want to be anonymous, just let us know.

Beach accessibility isn't just about beach wheelchairs and matting. It's also about giving people confidence in advance, that the extra effort it takes them to get to the beach, will be worth it.

A great experience. One to recommend to others, and a place to return to. ✨️

Photos: West Bay Beach - 1) Annagail Leaman and Will Behenna, 2) Will pointing to beach signage, 3) & 4) West Bay Beach

21/04/2025

Fantastic to see other examples of improvements to beach accessibility at Sidmouth, East Devon.

If you have similar examples from where you live, please share them with us so we can share them here!

BBC News - Sidmouth beach accessibility scheme extended

The council’s StreetScene team has been installing additional track matting on three beaches.