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Blue Flag Beaches

Welcome to Southend’s award‑winning coastline, where safety, sustainability, and sunshine meet. With seven miles of shoreline featuring a mix of secluded beach huts, family-friendly sands, and kitesurfing-ready waves, Southend delivers something for everyone.

We’re proud to highlight that three of our beaches, East Beach (Shoeburyness), Shoebury Common, and Three Shells Beach, have earned the prestigious Blue Flag, joining five others with the Seaside Award for excellence in cleanliness, safety, and environmental standards .

Every beach here has also achieved a 'Good' or 'Excellent' water quality rating from the Environment Agency, ensuring peace of mind whether you're paddling, splashing, or just soaking up the views. Thorpe Bay continues its streak with an ‘Excellent’ rating, and we're actively working to extend Blue Flag status there too.

Environmental Education Activities

As part of our Blue Flag commitment, we deliver a year-round programme of environmental education and engagement designed to protect and celebrate Southend’s coastline. These five activities bring together schools, community groups, volunteers, and visitors to promote beach safety, protect local wildlife, encourage sustainable practices, and foster pride in our unique coastal environment. By combining hands-on experiences with creative outreach, we aim to make our beaches safer, cleaner, and more enjoyable for everyone—now and for generations to come.

Activity 1 – Expanding the ‘Beach School’ Programme

Aim: Grow and enhance the Beach School educational offer.

Key Theme / Message:

  1. Expanded Education: Work with the Council’s Culture Team to increase school participation and diversify topics such as climate change, conservation, and marine biodiversity.

  2. Creative Engagement: Incorporate art, music, and performances to build stronger connections to environmental issues.

  3. Heritage & Civic Pride: Celebrate local heritage to instil pride and responsibility for Southend’s natural and cultural resources.

Delivery Method:

  • Information boards

  • Interpretation centres, museums, galleries, Southend Pier, Visitor Information Centre

  • Organised activities throughout the year, with increased frequency April–July

Target Audience: Schools and children aged 6–16

Marketing & Comms:

  • Social media

  • Council and visitor websites

  • Museum & Pier websites/channels

  • Printed posters, press releases

  • Emails and notices to schools

Activity 2 – Ongoing Beach Welfare & Volunteer Lifeguard Programme

Aim: Support and promote the volunteer lifeguard programme to strengthen beach safety efforts.

Key Theme / Message:

  • Recruitment & Awareness: Campaign to increase volunteer numbers.

  • Safety Event Participation: Continued involvement in coastal safety events.

  • Community Engagement: Ongoing role in Beach Management Committee and local welfare initiatives.

Delivery Method:

  • Information boards, websites, social media

  • Weekly organised activities across the resort

Target Audience: Residents, general public, watersports clubs/enthusiasts

Marketing & Comms:

  • Beach information boards

  • Social media campaigns

  • Websites of partner organisations

Activity 3 – Beach Cleans & Community Engagement

Aim: Expand volunteer participation in regular beach cleans.

Key Theme / Message:

  • Increase volunteer and event numbers across all beaches.

  • Promote benefits for the environment and community.

  • Provide organisers with checklists and resources for smooth event planning.

  • Strengthen coordination via Council’s volunteering network and Beach Management Committee.

  • Engage corporate groups via CSR programmes.

Delivery Method:

  • Information boards, media campaigns

  • Weekly organised activities year-round

Target Audience: Residents, schools, community groups, corporate teams, beach users

Marketing & Comms:

  • Beach information boards

  • Southend Council / Visit Southend / community websites & channels

  • Press releases

Activity 4 – Wildlife Awareness Events & Campaigns

Aim: Promote protection of local wildlife and awareness of Southend’s wetlands.

Key Theme / Message:

  • Host pop-up safety and wildlife awareness events at more beach locations.

  • Introduce an interactive “Rubbing Trail” on Southend Pier with environmental messages.

  • Expand digital campaigns with videos, facts, and downloadable resources.

  • Encourage schools and community groups to attend workshops.

Delivery Method:

  • Visitor Information Centre materials

  • Foreshore noticeboards

  • Monthly events in high season, daily on Southend Pier

Target Audience: All residents, visitors, and beach users

Marketing & Comms:

  • Information boards at beaches and VIC

  • SCC / Visit Southend / Southend Pier / community group websites & social media

Activity 5 – Local Water Safety Campaign

Aim: Promote water safety awareness to reduce incidents.

Key Theme / Message:

  • Provide safety advice on tides, water safety, and emergency response.

  • Host pop-up events with partner agencies.

  • Expand digital campaign with videos and resources.

  • Engage schools and community groups in workshops.

  • Work with tourism, transport, and accommodation partners for wider reach.

Delivery Method:

  • Information boards, Visitor Information Centre, online channels

  • Monthly organised activities (May–Sept)

Target Audience: All residents, visitors, and beach users

Marketing & Comms:

  • Beach information boards

  • SCC / Visit Southend / Southend Tourism Partnership websites & social channels

  • Press releases

Get involved

If you’d like to join in one of the activities, fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch.

Name
What activity would you like to get involved with?
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