Young People in Ullapool Saving our Seas
In 2018, while snorkelling in their local kelp forests, six young people from Ullapool saw the damage plastic pollution caused their beloved sea and shores.
This set the young co-founders Arwen, Caillin, Hamish, Josh, Megan and Poppy on a journey to help their village become plastic straw free, the first village of its kind in Europe. This first taste of how passion, coupled with action, can have real results gave life to Ullapool Sea Savers (USS).
Ullapool Sea Savers became a new space for young people to protect their incredible marine environment, supporting connection to Nature and in turn positive mental health. The young people designed their own logo and asked a local childminder to help with the admin (and snacks!).
From the start, the six co-founders wanted to make sure other young people felt empowered to do something about what was happening to the sea they loved, which was a big part of their childhood and community. Ullapool Sea Savers went on to develop a culture of support, respect for science and evidence-based action, collaboration, joy, and togetherness.
Today, that ethos and culture is as strong as when the original ‘kids’ created it as they mentor new Sea Savers. Together, they support each other to find positive, proactive, ways to meet the challenges facing our oceans and seas.
“Being a Sea Saver makes me feel better about the things that are happening to the seas – I feel like I can make a difference, and I can help instead of just letting it happen.”
Between 2020 and 2025, USS have received a total investment of £14,708 from a range of programme’s administered by Foundation Scotland including Essentia Foundation, CalMac Community Fund, and Corriemoillie Wind Farm Education and Training Fund.
Each grant has helped to build the knowledge and experiences of the young people by covering the cost of training courses to help them progress in their valuable work protecting, advocating, and saving their seas and sea life.
“When I feel sad, Sea Savers cheers me up and when I feel happy, I can help other kids that are feeling sad. We help each other and we help the sea.”
Achievements since 2018 include:
- Changed 1 national law to prevent kelp forest dredging in Scotland, together with coastal communities and members of Scottish Parliament
- Taken 8 trips to parliament to advocate for Ullapool’s beautiful marine environment
- Grown USS from 4 to 32 young people and counting
- Put hundreds of hours into learning how to protect our seas and oceans
- Run 10 campaigns to involve the whole Ullapool community in protecting our seas
- Run 20 accessible trips on its boat MadaChuain
- Contributed data to 6 citizen science databases
- Championed 30 marine life species, from dolphins to sea turtles to otters
- Trained 12 kids in power boat handling & seamanship
- Made one very cool film about industrial fish farming with Patagonia
- Carried out 70 beach cleans, removing roughly 900kgs of waste from the shoreline
- Distributed 500 bin clips to every house in Ullapool, stopping rubbish blowing around the village
- Nominated for an award, Surfers Against Sewage Plastic Free Awards
- Supported 4 Duke of Edinburgh Awards and 6 Saltire Awards
- Trained 6 young people in Seasearch snorkel and scuba survey training
- Appeared on TV with Prince William.
“I like cleaning the beaches and I love being on the boat. We see so much amazing stuff in the creels – I wish everyone everywhere could see those things. If they did, they might be more careful about what they do to the sea.”
