Ocean Conservation Trust Grants

Deadline: 15-Oct-23

The Ocean Conservation Trust is offering Small grants to organisations or individuals that deliver exciting conservation projects.

The projects must further the goals and programmes of the Ocean Conservation Trust. Projects can be research-based, educational or community events but, the unifying theme is that the project must contribute towards a healthy Ocean.

Core Programmes

• Ocean Habitats
  • Blue Meadows
    • Blue Meadows is their seagrass protection, regeneration and restoration programme. They work alongside local communities to locate and then protect seagrass meadows. They are currently working in Plymouth, Falmouth, the Solent and Torbay with an ambition to restore at least 10% of UK seagrass (700 hectares) and develop a blueprint for seagrass restoration at scale. They are trialling different planting and growing techniques in the large-scale seagrass nursery.
• Ocean Experiences
  • National Marine Aquarium
    • The OCT owns and operates the Nation’s Aquarium, which sits on the shores of Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, receiving 280,000 visitors a year. Their team uses the NMA as a base for the world class schools programme, as well as outreach into communities, taking people snorkelling, running the ‘Ocean Squad’ club for young people and taking the Ocean into hospitals and care homes via VR headsets.
• Ocean Advocacy
  • Think Ocean
    • Raising the voice of the Ocean at all levels of society, helping people to understand how they are all connected to the Ocean and what they can do to help.

Eligible Projects

• Projects that can evidence the following indictors are more likely to be selected:
  • Collaborative projects that work alongside local communities, empowering them to be part of the solution, whatever the issue.
  • Focus on the protection and restoration of seagrass habitats, and the key species found within them.
  • Use a systems approach, to ensure that ecosystems and socioeconomic systems are connected.
  • Carefully monitor habitat protection and restoration schemes from both biodiversity and social perspectives.
  • Evidence that results will be used to improve what you do.
  • Champion Ocean biodiversity and the inextricable interconnection with the Ocean.
  • Encourage a physical and emotional connection with the Ocean.
  • Use natural resources sustainably.

Who can apply?

• Applications will be accepted from all sectors of society; there are no restrictions upon age range or abilities of groups carrying out the projects.
• Student projects that are mainly requesting funds for travel or equipment will not be funded.
• There is no geographical restriction on where projects might be located, or where applications might come from. Consideration will be given to projects operating at every scale, but priority will be given to local and national initiatives.
• Applications will be accepted from other charities, organizations, schools, colleges and individuals.

For more information, visit OCT.