Paddler Oliver Richardson is on a mission to make water sports more inclusive. He says it has been “a privilege” to help people who were once left on the sidelines.
Oliver started accessible kayaking sessions in partnership with All Aboard, which enables disabled people to participate in sailing, kayaking, rowing and paddleboarding, and sees instructors using British Sign Language [BSL].
His exceptional dedication to open up the world of paddlesports to the Deaf and hard of hearing community in Bristol was recently recognised as he was named a finalist in the BBC Make a Difference Active Award in Bristol.
His expertise, lived experience, and passion for developing safe, inclusive and confidence-building sessions on the water has created a vibrant new community.
In 2024 he secured funding to encourage community groups for deaf people into watersports for a trial, which sold out.
This year, Paddle UK’s Stronger Together Fund has supported interpreters and skilled instructors to be in place, enabling participants to enjoy kayaking, paddleboarding and other watersports—while boosting confidence, wellbeing, and creating social connections.
“Being deaf myself, I find many of the participants and I have a deeper connection as I can support them to overcome a lot of the barriers directly through communication in BSL.”
Having first discovered his love for paddlesports 25 years ago while attending Mary Hare School for the Deaf in Newbury, Oliver went on to develop a lifelong passion for paddlesports.
He’s paddled rivers and coastlines all over the world, including France, New Zealand, Sweden, and Norway, and holds qualifications as a Sea Kayak Leader, White Water Leader, and a provider of paddlesport safety and rescue courses.
“To be recognised, and a finalist for a BBC Make a Difference Award was a huge surprise. It is a privilege to support so many people to access watersports and a massive thank you to all of those who have supported the project at Paddle UK, All Aboard Watersports and Bristol’s Centre for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People.” he said.
Reflecting on the barriers that D/deaf paddlers often face, Oliver said.
“A lot of us have to take off hearing aids or cochlear implants on the water, so even following instructions becomes really challenging.
“Many D/deaf people miss out on water sports simply because the communication isn’t accessible — whether that’s safety briefings or learning new skills.
It took me two years to learn to roll a kayak because of that — it wasn’t until someone helped me visualise it differently that I finally cracked it. Running these sessions is a way of giving back, helping others access something that’s brought me so much joy over the years.”
If you would like to participate or know someone who may want to attend a future session, please contact
Visit their website: allaboardwatersports.co.uk
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