2 young adults with their backs to the camera. They are crouching over some seaweed covered rockpools. They are both wearing navy blue jumpers that read "save our seas". This text is surrounded by a white dolphin and jellyfish illustration.

Youth engagement in Scotland

Our youth engagement work in Scotland focuses on helping young people connect with the coast, discover the remarkable marine life found in Scottish seas, and understand the vital role we all play in protecting the ocean.

    Thanks to funding from Young Start and the National Lottery Community Fund, between April 2024 and April 2027 we'll be working closely with young people across Scotland, including remote, rural and inland communities to grow ocean literacy, offer new experiences and promote careers in conservation across the country.

    Find out about ocean literacy

    What will we do?

    Through a variety of events and opportunities we’ll introduce young people aged 5-25 to our incredible ocean and share how we can all do our bit to protect it. We’ll also use marine citizen science programmes to train and upskill young people in the collection of data that can really make a difference for the sea and support with career development in the environmental sector. 

    Our aim is to connect young people across Scotland (no matter how far inland) to our amazing coastline, to develop a community of like-minded individuals who adopt pro-ocean behaviours, and to empower our young people to use their voice to speak up for the ocean.

    A young person looking through binoculars outside. They are wearing a light blue coat and there is someone standing behind htem wearing a red coat. In the background is the ocean.

    Young person looking out to sea at Millport, Isle of Cumbrae  |  Image credit: Katie Macfarlane

    What’s on offer: 

    • 12 in-person (and where possible, outdoor) experiences a year, including beach cleans, games and activities, litter surveys, wellbeing walks, social opportunities and ocean learning. 
    • A fully paid 12-week internship each year to provide training opportunities and develop skills for a career in conservation through project-based experiences. Each intern will support the ongoing youth engagement offer in Scotland, as well as assisting the Youth Engagement Officer and gaining real-world work experience as part of our Community Engagement Team. 
    • Two large-scale events with an aim to increase opportunities for young people to engage in our work and take positive action for the ocean. We’ll welcome new young people to our community and provide a chance to learn, socialise and play an active part in our work through workshops, training and fun!  
    • In collaboration with the Field Studies Council at Millport, we’ll facilitate residential opportunities for young people aged 13-17 each summer on the west coast of Scotland, where attendees will learn about practical conservation, UK marine wildlife and spend time outdoors.  
    If you’d like to learn more about our youth engagement programme of events, get in touch with our Youth Engagement Officer, Caitlin, at [email protected].

    Why is Scottish youth engagement needed? 

    Scotland’s seas account for nearly 60% of the seas in the UK, but many people still face barriers in experiencing Scotland’s beautiful coastline and marine wildlife.  

    Our work is focused in the central belt of Scotland, where significant deprivation in many communities can limit access to nature and the marine environment. Engagement in these areas helps to break down these barriers, empowering young people to understand the importance of the ocean, to take part in citizen science and to become ocean-literate champions for the sea.

    A Scottish flag planted on Luskentyre Beach, Isle of Harris, Scotland  |  Image credit: Image credit: Petia Koleva

    Meet the team 

    Our Youth Engagement Officer, Caitlin, is currently based in East Lothian and brings a wealth of experience to this programme. For several years she has worked engaging communities in ocean literacy, species restoration and citizen science, bringing people from all walks of life together to better understand and care for the ocean.

    If you’d like to learn more about our youth engagement programme of events, get in touch with our Youth Engagement Officer, Caitlin, at [email protected].'

    About our funders

    Our youth engagement work in Scotland is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund Young Start Programme and the William Grant Foundation. 

    Check out more engagement opportunities

    Isle of Islay

    Scottish Seas Roadshow

    The Scottish Seas Roadshow is an inspiring ocean‑literacy initiative that helps communities and schools across Scotland reconnect with the sea, discover its remarkable marine life, and understand the vital role we all play in safeguarding ocean health.

    Join our Youth Ocean Network

    Aged 13–25 and interested in becoming a voice for the environment? Register your interest in becoming part of our UK-based Youth Ocean Network

    Learn about the Youth Advisory Panel

    The Youth Advisory Panel empowers young people to help shape the future of ocean protection.