Sustaining Blue Space Activation in Southend
Transforming access to the Thames Estuary
Active Essex ignited a movement in Southend by bringing together partners and embedding ABCD principles to activate blue spaces along the Thames Estuary. This work aligned closely with the Port of London Authority’s Active Thames priorities of increasing access, improving diversity and inclusion, and promoting water safety. Locally, it supported Southend’s priorities around tackling inactivity, reducing health inequalities and improving mental wellbeing.
With a population of 180,000 and pockets of deprivation contributing to low activity levels among older adults, ethnically diverse communities and people with long-term health conditions, Southend faces significant inequalities. These groups historically face greater barriers in accessing blue spaces, water-based activity and outdoor wellbeing opportunities, therefore it was important to try and activate the Thames Estuary as a safe, inclusive and accessible blue space for all to enjoy.
Recognising these challenges, Active Essex organised a 2024 Coastal Conversations workshop, uniting organisations behind a shared vision for inclusive water-based activity. This was the start of Active Southend on Thames. Find out more here.
Today, the programme has transitioned to sustainable local leadership and the model is now being replicated in Active Canvey on Thames. This reflects its success and alignment with both the Active Essex Implementation Plan 2025–26 and PLA’s priorities for blue space activation.
Active Essex acted as the catalyst for system change, bringing together key partners, shaping priorities and embedding community-led principles. Our contributions included:
- Organising the 2024 Coastal Conversations workshop
- Embedding ABCD (Asset-Based Community Development) principles
- Providing bid-writing and project management support
- Developing the original case study to evidence impact and secure future funding
- Ensuring alignment with Active Thames priorities: access, inclusion, safety, workforce development
- Ensuring alignment with Southend priorities: reducing inactivity and health inequalities
This approach enabled Southend to secure investment, build capacity and transition responsibility to SAVS as the long-term lead organisation, demonstrating a sustainable, locally owned model. Other impacts of this work include GP referrals for cold‑water therapy, signalling growing recognition of physical activity as a legitimate health intervention. The creation of a new sliding-seat rowing club and the establishment of Waterwatch UK further demonstrate how the programme has strengthened sustainable infrastructure and nurtured community leadership.
These developments collectively highlight how early investment and strong collaborative leadership have contributed to a system that is both self-sustaining and future‑focused.
Key Learnings
It's important to take time to reflect and understand the learnings from work undertaken, to focus on ways to improve in the future.
Environment
Weather and tidal conditions required adaptive planning.
Barriers
Limited uptake with ethnic minority groups, so targeted engagement is needed.
Accessibility
Gaps in provision such as toilets, transport, safe access points create barriers.
Cost
Free sessions and workforce training increased engagement, but fees restricted participation.
Future ambitions focus on scaling inclusive water‑based activities across Southend and Canvey, while addressing system learnings around accessibility, cultural engagement and community confidence. Strengthening relationships with health partners will remain a priority to further embed physical activity within clinical and community care pathways. The programme will continue aligning with the Active Essex Implementation Plan priorities, using insight and partnership learning to guide sustainable growth. Looking ahead, partners also aim to leverage future opportunities through the Active Thames Fund to secure additional investment, ensuring the long‑term expansion and resilience of blue‑space activation across the Thames Estuary.
