Sea-changers

Charity Number: 1142119

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £119,168 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Over 50%
  • Decision Time: Varies by program (timescales provided upon application submission)
  • Grant Range: £500 - £5,000
  • Geographic Focus: United Kingdom (England, Wales, and Scotland)

Contact Details

Website: www.sea-changers.org.uk

Email: helen@sea-changers.org.uk / info@sea-changers.org.uk

Phone: 07909897867

Overview

SEA-CHANGERS was founded in 2010 by Helen Webb MBE and Rachel Lopata MBE, who were both honoured in King Charles' first Birthday Honours List for their services to marine conservation. Registered as charity number 1142119 in England and Wales (and SCO43922 in Scotland), the organization operates with a small team of 15 volunteers and 8 trustees, with no paid employees. In 2023, the charity had a total income of £171,945 and distributed £119,168 in grants. SEA-CHANGERS' mission is to promote the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural marine environment and promote marine biodiversity. The charity raises funds through partnerships with sea-users and marine businesses, making it easy for them to give something back to protect the environment. In 2024, SEA-CHANGERS awarded a record-breaking 43 grants in the first half of the year alone, demonstrating their growing impact across the British Isles.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Main Grants Programme: £500 - £2,500

Two grant rounds per year with application deadlines of 31st March and 30th September. Applications are submitted via email to info@sea-changers.org.uk using the application form.

Small Grants Programme: Up to £500

Rolling basis - applications accepted any time with quick decision turnaround. Simpler application process than Main Grants.

Innovation Fund: Varies

Annual fund for innovative solutions to marine conservation problems in the UK. Closing date typically in late February.

Marine Conservation Social Fund: £3,000 - £5,000

Periodic fund (run in 2023, check website for future rounds). Note: This fund specifically seeks new projects, and previous successful applicants cannot apply.

Coastal Fountain Fund: Up to £2,500

Specific fund for installing water refill stations at coastal locations to reduce single-use plastic bottles.

Priority Areas

SEA-CHANGERS funds projects that achieve one or more of the following objectives:

  • Address root causes of marine conservation threats and challenges in the UK
  • Prevent or reduce negative impacts on UK coastal and marine environments and/or species
  • Add to the body of knowledge about marine conservation threats and challenges in the UK

The charity is particularly interested in:

  • Grassroots projects that galvanize community action
  • Projects that increase the number of people taking action for marine conservation
  • Community engagement and awareness-raising initiatives
  • Scientific research and citizen science projects
  • Marine habitat protection and restoration
  • Species conservation (including marine mammals, seabirds, fish, and invertebrates)
  • Microplastic pollution monitoring and reduction
  • Youth education and engagement in marine conservation

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals or single-person causes - projects must benefit broader communities or conservation goals
  • Core/ongoing costs - only fund projects with defined start and end dates and clear, measurable outcomes
  • Subsistence costs - generally do not fund food or drink for applicants, volunteers or event participants unless a compelling case is made
  • Travel costs - only funded where people cannot reasonably pay their own travel due to high costs/distances, or where not funding would create barriers to participation. Flights not funded unless absolutely essential
  • Previously funded projects - generally only fund new projects, though very occasionally may fund extensions where compelling reasons exist
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Governance and Leadership

Co-Founders

Helen Webb MBE - Co-Founder

Helen co-founded SEA-CHANGERS in 2010 and continues to run the charity as a volunteer alongside her regular job. She stated: “We love the idea of a specific Innovation Fund, to run alongside our main grants programme” and “We have been able to draw in a wonderful range of people to fill our many skills, knowledge and understanding gaps.”

Rachel Lopata MBE - Co-Founder

Rachel co-founded the charity with Helen and has dedicated her passion, enthusiasm and boundless energy to SEA-CHANGERS since 2010.

Both co-founders were awarded MBEs in King Charles' first Birthday Honours List for their services to marine conservation.

Recent Trustee Appointments

In recent announcements, Helen Webb welcomed new trustees Lois Calder and Penny Nelson, stating: "It's great to welcome Lois and Penny. Both have provided expert input to grant panels before so come with a real understanding and appreciation of the work we do here."

The charity currently has 8 trustees who oversee grant decisions and strategic direction.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Main Grants Programme:

  • Download application form from www.sea-changers.org.uk/how-to-apply
  • Complete the form using the section-by-section advice (available as PDF or video)
  • Review the Evaluation Guide to understand what the grants assessment panel looks for
  • Submit completed application to info@sea-changers.org.uk by 31st March or 30th September deadline

Small Grants Programme:

  • For grants up to £500
  • Apply at any time using simplified application process
  • Quick decision turnaround

Innovation Fund:

  • Submit application before closing date (typically late February)
  • Acknowledgement provided with decision timescales
  • Trustees make final funding decisions and notify applicants in writing

Decision Timeline

Applicants receive confirmation of their application with an indication of timescales for finding out if they've been successful. When the grant panel (or trustees for Innovation Fund) has made their final decision, they write to applicants to inform them of the outcome. Specific timeframes vary by program but are communicated upon application submission.

Success Rates

The proportion of grants that are successful is generally over 50%, which is notably favorable compared to many grant programs. In autumn 2024, SEA-CHANGERS provided £43,000 worth of funding for 21 projects from their Main Grant round.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly documented on their website. For the Marine Conservation Social Fund specifically, previous successful applicants are not eligible to reapply, but this restriction applies only to that particular fund. For general guidance on reapplication, contact SEA-CHANGERS directly at info@sea-changers.org.uk.

Application Success Factors

What SEA-CHANGERS Looks For

Clear outcomes and objectives: A good application generally has clear aims that lead to specific outcomes. Projects should identify both measurable and non-measurable outcomes.

Community engagement: The charity particularly values grassroots projects that galvanize community action and foster widespread participation in marine conservation activities.

Value for money: Projects are evaluated on their potential to positively affect marine environments and their value for money.

Long-term benefits: Applications should demonstrate how the project will inspire long-term benefits and sustained impact beyond the immediate project timeframe.

Innovative approaches: Creative solutions to marine conservation challenges are highly valued, particularly through the Innovation Fund.

Examples of Recently Funded Projects (2024)

Research & Monitoring:

  • Clean Ocean Sailing (Falmouth) - Monitoring microplastic pollution in the Fal River with volunteers and university students
  • Blue Hope Alliance (Scotland) - Using citizen science to protect endangered maerl beds with standardized data collection
  • Cetacean Research & Rescue Unit - Researching minke whale seasonal distribution and migration patterns
  • Durham Wildlife Trust - Training 150+ community volunteers to identify and record marine mammals

Species Protection:

  • Brent Lodge Bird and Wildlife Trust - Building species-specific enclosures for gulls and water birds to reduce bird flu spread

Community & Education:

  • Under The Trees Ltd - Geographical expansion of marine education program through 'Ocean Explorers' workshops
  • Darwin Centre - 'Glowing Plastic Detectives' project engaging pupils in microplastic pollution investigations
  • STEM@Education Connect - Inspiring young scientists from seven high schools with hands-on scientific experience investigating marine plastics
  • Alba Explorers - Beach Conservation Project field trips teaching about coastal erosion, beach pollution, and marine habitats

Community Action:

  • Lyme Bay Fisherman's CIC - Creating How-to-Guide for Grassroots Coastal Community Organisations
  • Friends of Castle Cove Beach (Dorset) - Extending water quality testing from summer-only to year-round schedule

Advice from Previous Applicants

From Coastal Fountain Fund applicants:

  • “Be prepared for unanticipated costs and try to allow some leeway in your budget to cover anything unexpected”
  • "Don't forget about ongoing maintenance" - some found it difficult to find local support
  • “The support of local Council has been crucial to success” - having Council on side is the “number one top tip”
  • “Try to simplify things as much as possible by choosing a site that already has a water supply and ideally on Council owned land”

Language and Terminology

SEA-CHANGERS uses accessible, community-focused language. Key terms that appear in their materials:

  • “Grassroots projects”
  • “Community action”
  • “Root causes” of marine threats
  • “Add to the body of knowledge”
  • “Clear, measurable outcomes”
  • “Sea-users” (referring to people who use and enjoy the marine environment)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • High success rate: With over 50% of applications successful, SEA-CHANGERS is more accessible than many funders - but this shouldn't lead to complacency in application quality
  • Community engagement is crucial: Demonstrate how your project galvanizes community action and increases the number of people taking action for marine conservation
  • Define clear outcomes: Use the Evaluation Guide and ensure your application has clear aims leading to specific, measurable outcomes
  • Start small if needed: The Small Grants Programme (up to £500) offers a quick decision and simpler process - ideal for testing ideas or for smaller organizations
  • Match your project to objectives: Ensure your project clearly addresses at least one of the three core objectives (addressing root causes, preventing/reducing impacts, or adding to knowledge)
  • Budget realistically: Allow contingency for unexpected costs, and consider ongoing maintenance requirements beyond the grant period
  • Leverage partnerships: Local Council support and other partnerships strengthen applications significantly
  • Use section-by-section guidance: SEA-CHANGERS provides detailed advice documents and videos - use these to understand what the assessment panel is looking for

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