Meet our 2026 Project Grant recipients!
Our Youth Ocean Action Fund opened for the second time this spring with the aim of breaking down barriers to youth-led marine advocacy. Our Project Grant offered up to £500 to kickstart youth-led ocean action projects and remove barriers to ocean advocacy.
Read on to find out about our 2026 recipients and their inspiring projects!
Youth Ocean Action Fund logo
Marine Protected Area or Marine Polluted Area?
Christopher Albers
An immersive sound installation exhibition to raise awareness about ongoing noise pollution in Scottish MPAs. Shown through an artistic lens, made to interact, experience and give room for learning.
“I couldn’t be more grateful that YSCS gives an opportunity to merge art with care for the seas, since art is often knit to personal benefit, this isnt. Our aim is to speak up for our seas."
~ Christopher
Image of a ocean spilling into exhibition space
Stepping stone to the shore
Mika Indelicato
Mika will be running a series of rockpooling sessions to introduce young people to their local rocky shores and empower them with the skills, tools, and confidence to develop a deeper connection to the sea.
“I first had a chance to go rock pooling when I was 24 and it brought me so much joy and helped me feel like I could be involved with my local rocky shore - I’m so grateful for the opportunity to bring this experience to as many young people as possible!”
~ Mika
Image of a seal on a rocky shore
Free art prints for sustainabilisea-food
Xiangru Wang
Xaingru’s project is to create a piece of marine-themed artwork that will inspire people to take action for our seas by getting them to make a pledge to be more curious about their consumption of seafood. Xiangru will take a course to refine her skills in printmaking before reproducing the prints for distribution at marine advocacy events in Edinburgh. In exchange for a free seafood themed print, those who receive the prints are encouraged to check supermarket seafood labels and ask about seafood sourcing when eating out.
“Receiving the project grant from YSCS has given me the opportunity to reconnect with my creative side while also allowing me to advocate for a cause that I am passionate about - sustainable seafood consumption. Importantly, I will be able to make the prints accessible for all by providing them free of monetary charge in exchange for more conscientious consumer choices.”
~ Xiangru
Image of screen-printing process.