Forum Talk: Navigating Meaningful Multi-Stakeholder Engagement in Blue Spaces for Health and Wellbeing
Speaker: Catherine Kelly, Senior Lecturer, School of Business and Law, University of Brighton
Speaker: Caroline Scarles, Professor of Technology in Society, Brunel University of London
Abstract: The health and wellbeing benefits of blue space leisure and recreation are widely recognised. The positive health impact of weekly swimming is so significant that the projected cost saving to the NHS is £357 million per year (Swim England, 2019). Following COVID-19, there has been a recent upsurge in the numbers of people swimming in blue space (oceans, lakes, quarries, ponds or rivers) as people sought to find escape and exercise in open water spaces as public services, such as indoor and outdoor swimming pools, spa centres, and such, were temporarily closed. Research shows that outdoor swimming and blue space engagement has wellbeing benefits for people with both physical and mental health problems (Massey et al., 2022; Kelly, 2021, White et al., 2018). Engagement with blue space can also promote community connections, social relationships, happiness and social trust (Costello et al., 2019; Denton and Aranda, 2020; Massey et al., 2020). Nevertheless, the complexities of multistakeholder engagement and interest create a complex political, cultural and social landscape within which blue spaces are located, accessed and managed.
In this presentation, we share the findings of research and knowledge exchange collaborations with the Environment Agency, and a wide range of community stakeholders, that explores some of the key issues associated with effective provision of, and engagement with, blue spaces. Adopting a range of perspectives from stakeholders, including spaces of creativity, partnership and alternative expression, our presentation critiques the findings of a series of 8 EA qualitative national workshops to reflect on the importance of expertise and knowledge sharing, an understanding of the ‘lived experiences’ of blue space users and the role that collective blue spaces provide for exercise, recreation, wellbeing and mindful engagement. It also examines civic and creative engagement with blue space custodianship using examples such as civic campaign groups, and arts-based practice and collaboration as further exemplars of human-water care reciprocity. In doing so, we explore key areas of government policy, regulation and legislation and environmental custodianship at local levels. We consider multi-stakeholder use, access, end user experiences, (in)equalities in access, – each of which play a central role in the provision of safe and accessible blue spaces to support human health and wellbeing.
