Turning the Tide

Empowering Young People for Marine Advocacy

Get skilled up to take action for our seas!

Turning the Tide is our free online training and capacity building programme, designed to kick-start your journey into marine advocacy and campaigning. If you’re committed to speaking up for Scotland’s seas, then this programme might be for you!

Over three months, from January to April, you’ll gain the skills and strategies to influence policy and drive meaningful change for our seas. And you won’t be alone - we’ll have the support of a mentor from the YSCS team who will support you to explore your passions and refine your goals. You’ll also team up with a small group of other course participants to put your skills into practice in a group campaign challenge.

When you complete the programme, you will receive a certificate of completion and join a growing community of passionate young advocates and activists standing up for Scotland’s seas. As part of this vibrant network, you’ll connect with like-minded young people, share your journey, and continue growing through ongoing training, support, and opportunities to amplify your impact and develop your advocacy skills.

Applications open Monday 1st December at 9am!

Click here to apply

Turning the Tide 2026 intro session: Get started with marine advocacy

Discover Turning the Tide! Join us for an introduction to our marine advocacy programme & learn how to take part. Hear an intro to Scotland’s seas, marine policy and advocacy, then hear more about Turning the Tide, meet the YSCS team and hear from previous course participants about what to expect and how to apply.

Register here

What to Expect

  • Online Modules

    The programme comprises six live modules, delivered interactively via Zoom. The first two core modules will be led by the YSCS team, setting the stage with essential background on policy & advocacy. The remaining modules will feature inspiring external guests who bring diverse expertise and perspectives, ensuring a rich and varied learning experience.

  • Mentoring

    You'll participate in three personal mentoring sessions with a YSCS team member, arranged at a time to suit you. These sessions serve as a space to explore your specific ocean interests, link you with potential contacts or opportunities, and guide you towards your goals as a marine advocate.

  • Group Campaign Challenge

    Working in small groups with other participants and supported by the YSCS team, you’ll put your advocacy skills into action by developing a campaign plan on a specific marine challenge. You’ll present your campaign plan to your peers and the module leads in a final session where we’ll also celebrate the end of the programme!

  • Time commitment

    We’ve designed Turning the Tide to work around busy lives, but we want to make sure you’re able to get the most out of the programme. Expect to dedicate around 2 hours a week to Turning the Tide. This will be a mix of fortnightly modules, mentoring sessions, group work and your own reflection time.

  • Discord

    Throughout the programme we will use the Discord app to keep in touch & share updates. It’s also be a space to connect with your peers in the wider YSCS community, hear about volunteering and other opportunities, and ask any questions from the YSCS team (and each other!).

  • Community Gathering

    YSCS hosts an annual gathering for young people in September and TTT participants get a guaranteed place. Attendance isn't mandatory but encouraged. It’s a fantastic way to meet the rest of the TTT cohort and other young people from across Scotland. Travel support will be available for anyone who needs it

Key Information

How to Apply

Simply complete the short application form which asks why you want to join TTT and what you hope to get out of it. You can also apply by sending us an audio or video file.

The closing date is Monday 5th January at 9AM. Applications will then be reviewed ASAP so you will hear back from us by the end of that week Jan 8th.

To ensure participants get a bespoke learning experience, spaces for TTT are capped at 15.

Your application will be compared to other young people of a similar age and will be selected based on your motivation to apply, your passion for marine issues and what you think you will get out of the course.

There's no wrong answers so be as open and honest as possible - we want to know more about you! 

Positive action

We aim to build a cohort with a balanced mix of backgrounds, regions, and genders. We will prioritise young people from groups that are under-represented in the marine sector or YSCS (see below). Our application form therefore has some questions relating to your background. We will follow our data Privacy Policy and all information will be kept confidential.

Accessibility & inclusion

We're committed to ensuring Turning the Tide is accessible to and inclusive of all young people. Some examples of some of the accessibility practices we do by default are:

  • Written materials sent before all modules and mentoring sessions

  • Multiple ways to engage with questions/content

  • Options to have video OR voice calls for mentoring & flexible meeting times

Please let us know if you’d like to apply in a different way or have any questions about the course format so that it’s fully accessible to you. Contact us at contact@youthforseas.org.

We particularly encourage applications from groups who are currently underrepresented at Young Sea Changers Scotland. In particular, we are looking to increase representation from young people belonging to ethnic minority groups, disabled people (or those living with long-term health conditions), people from low income or working class backgrounds, and people living in the Highlands and islands.

Timeline & Requirements

The Turning the Tide programme includes a mix of core and guest modules. To complete the programme you must:

  • Attend the two core modules

  • Attend at least one module out of 3 & 4

  • Attend at least one module out of 5 & 6

  • Take part in all three mentoring sessions.

  • Fully participate in the group campaign challenge and final session.

All the modules will be recorded so if you happen to miss one, you have the opportunity to catch up. We estimate you can expect to spend about 2 hours per week on Turning the Tide.

Note: Final dates for the modules will be confirmed in December!

Applications open Monday 1st December at 9am

Click here to apply

✺ Frequently asked questions ✺

  • Absolutely not! We do not expect you to have a background in marine biology; just a passion for healthy seas and an interest in getting involved!

  • Nope! The aim of the course is to equip you with these skills and help you build your knowledge so you can become an ocean advocate yourself.

  • To get the most out of Turning the Tide, it is important that you can commit to attending as much of the programme as possible. Places are extremely limited and we want to ensure places only go to those who are able to complete the programme. We intend to run the programme again in 2027 if it doesn’t work for you this year, though!

  • We strongly encourage participants to attend all the modules if possible. However, we know things sometimes come up so we ask that you attend both core modules and at least one module of 3/4 and 5/6. If you can’t attend a module you will have access to the recording to catch up.

  • We will select applicants based on the answers in their application. We are looking to hear what issues you’re passionate about and what you hope to get out of the training. Please also see the section above on positive action.

  • Yes, the course is designed to empower young people to speak up on issues that affect Scotland’s seas, and therefore only open to those living in Scotland. If you plan to leave Scotland immediately after the programme ends, please consider letting the space go to someone who will remain in Scotland and continue advocating for our seas.

  • All the online modules and mentoring sessions will be conducted virtually using Zoom, so you will need to have access to a laptop, phone or computer and a stable internet connection to attend.

  • Yes! The course is open to all young people aged 16-25 so we’d definitely encourage anyone 16-17 to apply. If you’re under 18 we’ll need consent from a parent/guardian to participate and you’ll be paired with someone else from your age group for mentoring.