Wheelchair user wants to make UK water accessible

A wheelchair user is calling for more to be done to make the UK's beaches and waters accessible to everyone.

Will Behenna, from Wimborne, wants people with medical and mental health conditions and disabilities to share their blue space experiences in an online survey.

The 53-year-old paddleboard instructor said his own desire to get out on the water independently inspired him to set up the Beach Access Project.

"I know how powerful it is for me to be on the water and to be connected with other people on the water," he said

Mr Behenna was seriously injured when he road his bike into a car while training for a triathlon aged 16.

He broke his back and was left paralysed from the chest down.

In 2021 he began thinking of ways that he could get out on the water without support.

He built a seat for his paddleboard and in 2023 he began teaching others with medical conditions and disabilities to paddleboard.

He described being out at sea as his "emotional therapy".

"Being in blue space reduces anxiety and depression and improves emotional wellbeing," he said.

"It then has connections with physical wellbeing as well and that's what I want to be able to give people the opportunity to experience."

Mr Behenna said after doing research he found that the UK does not have any beach access guidelines and noticed coastal facilities across Europe, Australia and America were much better equipped for people who need support.

"We've got accessible parking and accessible toilet facilities and then it pretty much stops there," he said.

After one week he said the Beach Access Project survey had received more than 140 submissions.

He said he had reached out to local authorities and the next phase of the project was to look at what solutions can be put in place.

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