Creating the next wave of ocean stewards
Access to the coast can be transformative, it builds environmental awareness, supports wellbeing, and fosters a sense of responsibility for the natural world.
Access to the coast can be transformative, it builds environmental awareness, supports wellbeing, and fosters a sense of responsibility for the natural world.
14 May 2026
For many young people across the UK, particularly those from under‑resourced or marginalised communities, meaningful engagement with the marine environment remains out of reach. The launch of our Next Wave Fund, in partnership with Sea‑Changers, aims to change that.
The fund was created to support grassroots conservation and education projects that help children and young people connect with the sea through hands-on experiences. Backed by an initial BMT donation of £20,000, the fund prioritises schools and communities with limited access to the coast, helping to remove practical barriers such as transport, equipment and specialist support. By working through Sea‑Changers’ established grant‑giving framework, the fund ensures that support reaches trusted local organisations delivering real impact on the ground.
Research shows that a significant proportion of children in England have never visited a British beach, despite living in a coastal nation. At the same time, demand for marine‑focused youth initiatives already exceeds available funding, with Sea‑Changers supporting more than 30 youth and school-focused projects in a single year. The fund has been designed to meet this demand, enabling more young people to experience the sea not as a distant concept, but as a place of learning, opportunity and care.
Turning environmental awareness into action
Central to the fund is the belief that early, positive experiences with the marine environment can shape lifelong attitudes. By combining education, conservation and inclusion, funded projects are encouraged to go beyond awareness‑raising, supporting young people to become active participants in protecting rivers, coastlines and seas. To date, three projects have been supported through the fund, each reflecting a different pathway into marine engagement.
The Alba Explorers’ “Young Coastal Guardians: Phase 2 Legacy” project will engage around 100 pupils from 17 schools across Angus and Dundee. Through structured coastal conservation sessions, pupils take part in beach cleans, species identification and ecological learning, while contributing to measurable environmental outcomes. The project aims to remove 90–95 bags of litter from local coastlines and places strong emphasis on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults throughout its activities. Family involvement is encouraged through take‑home packs, helping to extend learning beyond the sessions and foster longer‑term behavioural change around marine stewardship.
The Guardians of River Itchen project focuses on empowering neurodivergent young people through hands‑on river conservation. Using a blend of art, ecology and citizen science, the project enables participants to explore water quality and river health in ways that are accessible, creative and inclusive. By engaging directly with their local river, young people develop both knowledge and confidence, becoming advocates for environmental care within their communities. The project demonstrates how conservation initiatives can be adapted to different learning needs while still delivering meaningful environmental outcomes.
The Friends with Diabetes UK – Blue Horizons project brings together young people living with Type 1 diabetes for a programme centred on the sea. Through beach cleans, participants are supported to build confidence, improve wellbeing and develop a shared understanding of marine conservation. The project recognises the additional barriers some young people face in accessing outdoor activities and creates a safe, supportive environment where health needs are understood and accommodated.
Supporting communities through local action
Together, these projects illustrate the breadth of impact the fund is designed to achieve. Each initiative demonstrates how targeted funding can unlock local expertise and create opportunities for young people who might otherwise be excluded. Importantly, the fund does not prescribe a single model of engagement. Instead, it supports locally led solutions that respond to the needs, interests and circumstances of specific communities. Sea Changers are currently assessing the next round of initiatives this fund will support and with a record-breaking number of applications we look forward to seeing the wide range of initiatives we can support.
Investing in the next generation of ocean stewards
As the fund continues to grow, it represents a shared commitment to investing in people as much as places. By helping young people access the marine environment, build knowledge and take responsibility for their local waterways, the fund is contributing to a future where environmental stewardship is embedded early and carried forward with confidence.
Inspiring the next generation of ocean stewards starts with opportunity. Through partnerships like this, those opportunities are becoming more widely and more equitably available.
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