Jo in the Water

Patch Bournemouth is hosting a screening of the documentary Jo in the Water on Tuesday 29 September, organised by Transition Bournemouth. It's a feature-length film by Jo Bateman that follows a passionate sea swimmer who finds herself turned reluctant activist, taking on one of the UK's biggest water companies to protect the oceans from sewage pollution.

For the woman at the centre of it, sea swimming is a sanctuary, but that changes when sewage spills start threatening the waters she loves. The film tracks her as she finds the courage to push back, and in doing so, helps ignite a growing movement. It doesn't just stop at her story, though; it opens up to the wider state of the UK water system, framing the issue as more than just pollution. It's presented as a question of connection — to nature, to our sense of place, and to the responsibility we have for the world around us.

If you've spent any time on the Bournemouth coast, the subject will feel close to home. The film puts a face to the headlines about sewage spills and looks at what happens when someone decides they've had enough and starts asking questions. It's as much about the personal cost of activism as it is about the environmental crisis itself.

The screening is on Tuesday 29 September, with the film starting at 7:00pm and doors opening at 6:30pm. Tickets are £7.50 in advance and £9.00 on the door.