Tackling a global issue on a local scale, Sea-Changers have supported marine conservation projects in the UK for a decade. Now, they are marking the occasion with a celebratory virtual festival
Words Jessica Reid
As an island nation, the UK are passionate about protecting our beloved coastline which surrounds us and are well-aware of the global issues facing the marine environment today – overfishing, pollution and climate change to name a few. These problems can seem so immense, it is difficult to know how we can tackle them. Cue Sea-Changers, a UK organisation run by a small team of volunteers supporting hundreds of coastal communities wanting to make a real difference.
WHO ARE SEA-CHANGERS?
‘I guess we realised around 15 years ago that the seas were changing,’ says Helen Webb, one of the co-founders of Sea-Changers, alongside Rachel Lopata. Both Helen and Rachel are diving enthusiasts and have travelled all over the world, exploring life under the sea.
‘We were seeing more pollution, plastic, less fish, more coral damage and we just couldn’t ignore it. For a while we didn’t really know what to do so we got involved in beach cleans and reduced our plastic footprint. But then we hit on the idea. A charity that could enable people like us, who loved the sea, to make a difference. Once we had the idea that was it, we just had to find a way to make it happen.’
MARINE CONSERVATION SUCCESS
And in 2011, Sea-Changers was born. Their mission – to encourage those who love the sea to contribute positively to its sustainability, enable businesses who care for the ocean to make a difference, and offer funding to grassroots marine conservation projects within coastal communities, allowing them to thrive and truly make an impact. Since then, the charity has generated significant funds and supported more than 200 projects through their grant programme.
Reflecting on their achievements over the past decade, Helen is proud of all the projects they have been able to support. ‘I think if you had said to us ten years ago, Sea-Changers will fund installation of coastal water fountains, enable hundreds of direct clean up events, fund education programmes in schools and community settings, enable fantastic research into some of the sea’s most pressing issues and allowed species protection to take place right around the UK, it would just have been beyond our comprehension’.
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FESTIVAL OF VIRTUAL EVENTS
To mark the special occasion, Sea-Changers are celebrating the charity’s 10-year anniversary by hosting an exciting festival of virtual events, putting a spotlight on all the projects they have helped fund and promoting the important work they do.
‘We can’t wait for the festival,’ says Helen. ‘One of the lovely things about the planning and preparation process has been the process of reflecting on all the work we have done, the wonderful projects we have been able to support and the progress we have made over the past ten years.’
Each event will focus on a different topic, including plastic pollution, species conservation and community action within Cornwall, with organisations such as The Shark Trust, The National Lobster Hatchery and Cornwall Seal Research Group – all supported by Sea-Changers – taking part in the discussions. Individual experts will also be joining the line-up, including marine biologist and author Helen Scales, presenter Miranda Krestovnikoff and coastal ecologist Maya Plass.
‘We really hope that loads of our Sea-Changers friends and followers will join us to celebrate what amazing work can be achieved through our grants programmes. We have come such a long way and achieved more than we could ever have dreamt possible.’
Sea-Changers festival of virtual events runs from 23-30 June 2021. To register your interest and see the full festival programme, go to eventbrite.co.uk/o/sea-changers-33196642167
To learn more about protecting our oceans, head to our Marine Conservation section, or pick up a copy of Coast magazine
