Youth engagement

We’re working with young people across Scotland to connect them with the ocean and inspire them to care for it.  

In 2023, we ran our first in-person youth engagement event in Scotland at Edinburgh’s National Museum of Scotland. Our attendees were granted a look behind the scenes at the museum, as well as taking part in conservation-themed workshops, talks and engaging activities. Several family groups and Youth Ocean Network members attended on the day, with one member delivering a presentation to all attendees on her experience as a young person working in marine conservation today.

Since this event, the impact and reach of our work with young people in Scotland has continued to build. From residential trips, litter surveys and wellbeing walks to the development of a fully paid 12-week internship for young people, find out more about our youth engagement opportunities in Scotland

Since June 2023, we’ve successfully run a series of exciting and engaging events for young people in England. 

The first of these events was hosted in Bristol in June 2023. Wildlife cameraman, Doug Allan, delivered a fascinating talk for the attendees, with staff and Youth Ocean Network members running a workshop on their memories associated with nature, how nature makes us feel, and how we can use our voices to help protect our blue planet. Attendees included students from the University of Bristol, young people from mental health social movement OTR (Off the Record) and six members of the Youth Ocean Network, with four members having helped with the event planning.  

Following this, we’ve organised a variety of free in-person opportunities across England, from workshops at The Wave in Bristol and creating an artivism piece in London, and free youth events from Newcastle to Falmouth. We’re also currently visiting schools, youth groups and communities across the North of England as part of the One Ocean Roadshow project until 2027. 

We’ll continue to run two in-person events across England each year and have plans to run marine conservation youth residentials and internships, subject to funding. For more information, please get in touch with our Youth Engagement Officer, Caitlin, at [email protected].

In Wales, our work continues to inspire young people and engage them with the ocean on our doorstep.  

Our first in-person event was hosted in Bangor in September 2023 and featured ocean-themed talks, interactive workshops and an opportunity for attendees to meet other like-minded young people. The group had creative discussions around wellbeing, time spent in nature and how we can all play our part in protecting our ocean. In the afternoon, we ran a beach clean along the Bangor coastline near Garth Pier, collecting and recording 32kg of litter as part of the UK-wide Great British Beach Clean.  

We’ll continue to run two in-person events across Wales each year and have plans to run marine conservation youth residentials and internships, subject to funding. For more information, please get in touch with our Youth Engagement Officer, Caitlin, at [email protected].