The Blue Youth Programme is designed to connect young people aged 11 to 21 with marine conservation, Ocean advocacy, and potential careers in marine science.
Through initiatives like the Blue Youth Summit, the Youth Advisory Panel (YAP), and the Blue Youth Newsletter, we offer opportunities for youth leadership and collaboration in marine science and conservation. Our goal is to help young people become more Ocean literate, increase their access to the Ocean, and empower them to play an active part in shaping the future of the Ocean.
Be the first to hear about Blue Youth opportunities and keep up to date with Ocean news by subscribing to the Blue Youth Newsletter! Sign up by clicking the link below and email to get added to the list.
Blue Youth Summit 2026
The first Blue Youth Summit was designed to maximise enjoyment and participation while giving our young guests real autonomy and agency. It was deliberately run like a genuine conservation conference.
Ian McFadzen, CEO of the OCT gave a welcome address, with a surprise keynote from explorer and wildlife presenter Steve Backshall! The OCT is especially grateful to Steve Backshall for his contribution as keynote speaker. His engagement with the young attendees helped set a positive and inspiring tone for the day, and his session was consistently highlighted by participants as a highlight of the summit.
The Youth for Ocean session featured three talks about young people working in the industry, two of them delivered by young people who have founded their own projects and organisations, Rada Pandeva (The Thalassophile Project) and Tsian Deslandes (Mermaids without Borders). Dylan Lynch (Ocean Conservation Trust and Ernest Cook Trust) highlighted the power of youth voice in conservation, and why youth representation matters across the sector.
Workshops included building a solar-powered fan, writing letters to Luke Pollard MP (MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport) and exploring their “Ocean Superpower”. Together they offered something hands-on and interactive, a chance to platform young voices, and a moment for genuine introspection.
Luke Pollard MP joined us as a guest and supported the letter-writing workshop, giving attendees one-to-one time with a government Minister and the freedom to ask him anything. The letters they wrote were later compiled and sent to him; alongside a group letter we wrote and signed together on the day. He kindly responded with a letter of his own, which was shared with attendees in the first Blue Youth Newsletter sent out in August.
After the closing panel, participants had the chance to ask questions to the panel via anonymous submissions, as well as in person. Feedback from participants was collected and has been analysed to help shape future youth offerings at the OCT, including the next Blue Youth Summit.
Join the Ocean Squad!
Our award-winning Ocean Squad programme has been designed to give young people a meaningful connection to the Ocean. Ocean Squad is all about fun experiences.