Bluetits founder honoured on the Women’s Hour Power List: Women in Sport 2023

The Women’s Hour Power List: Women in Sport 2023 honours 30 outstanding British women in sport who are making an impact – both on and off the field.

The women on the list range from remarkable athletes to grassroots heroes, visionary leaders to game-changing policymakers. The public were invited to nominate people for recognition on the list

The Power List was announced today, March 28 on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour by presenter Nuala McGovern alongside the Chair of Judges, broadcaster Jessica Creighton, World Cup winning cricketer and broadcaster Ebony Rainford-Brent.

Sian, 58 from St Davids in Pembrokeshire, was honoured in the grassroots category for her work founding and running The Bluetits Chill Swimmers, which began in 2014 after Sian started winter swimming on her local beach at Porthsele wearing just a swimsuit. She had taken up the challenge to help her stay fit and fight pain as she faced two hip replacements.

At the time, a lone winter swimmer – especially one with no wetsuit – was a rare sight. People started asking what she was doing, and some of them joined her. Soon The Bluetits Chill Swimmers was born.

Over the years that followed many people staying on Sian’s St Davids campsite came along for a dip, and took the idea back home with them, forming their own Bluetits flocks. The idea spread far and wide, placing Sian at the heart of a global movement with over 100,000 members in 15 countries.

The Bluetits provides safety training, swimming lessons, friendship and support for cold water swimmers. It’s a totally inclusive movement, open to all abilities and genders, and holds regular Bluetits meet-ups and events throughout the year, in addition to regular dips.

The Bluetits’ cheerful and instantly recognisable polka dot branding is now a common sight on beaches throughout the UK, with members reporting multiple benefits from ‘Bluetitting.’

The 2023 Bluetits members’ survey revealed:

• 94% of Bluetits say that being part of a Bluetits flock has improved their mental health.

• 71% of Bluetits have experienced new or improved friendships by being part of a flock.

• 86% of Bluetits say that being a Bluetit has a positive effect on their physical health.

• 72% of Bluetits have experienced a stronger sense of community and inclusivity as a result of Bluetitting.

Commenting on her inclusion on the list, Sian said: “I am honoured that the work we do at The Bluetits has been recognised by my inclusion on this power list.

“There was no plan to create a worldwide movement back in 2014 when I started The Bluetits. I could never have envisioned that the seemingly simple act of encouraging human beings to come together in and around open water would prove to be be life-changing for so many.

“It is thanks to the work my team do at Bluetits HQ in Pembrokeshire and the joy and enthusiasm the worldwide Bluetit community spread at every Bluetit swim that I am able to continue to do the work I do.”