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View over Rhossili Bay Wales David King Photography

October 2024

In October the HYYM team continued to deliver the Ocean Connection Programme, were invited to speak at another international conference on learnings from the HYYM project and had some exciting changes within the team.

Ocean Connection Programme

Whilst the Ocean Connection Programme will continue until January, unfortunately the sunny weather did not! To make the most of the last of the warm weather, the HYYM team delivered a ‘beach day’ with WCD Young Carers at Horton’s Nose Nature Reserve near Rhyl Harbour, which included a beach clean, a seashore safari and marine-themed charades!

HYYM Young Carers Beach Activities

Credit: Ciara Taylor

We looked at how we could bring the beach to people despite not being able to be there in person. Working with local artist Tim Pugh, the team delivered marine litter art sessions in local schools, in which young people created wonderful designs out of plastic found on local beaches.

There was also a ‘meet the marine conservationists’ session in which people in the project area could come along and meet the Marine Conservation Society Learning and Community Engagement team to hear about the different types of roles available in the marine conservation sector and the routes into them.

Meet the conservationists event HYYM

Credit: Ciara Taylor

As Ocean Connection Programme activities continued, participants continued to ‘unlock’ their special activities on the completion of their loyalty cards. October’s special activity was a trip to Venue Cymru in Llandudno for the Ocean Film Festival. As the Marine Conservation Society was a key partner on the Ocean Film Festival, we had a stall at the entrance of Venue Cymru and were able to raise awareness of the HYYM project among local people during the event.

HYYM Forum and special activity members at the Ocean Film Festival

Credit: Ocean Forum member, 2024

International Marine Conservation Congress (IMCC), Cape Town

The HYYM team’s international influence continued to grow in October, with HYYM Project Lead Ffion Mitchell Langford travelling to South Africa for the IMCC. Ffion presented on the HYYM project, highlighting key learnings from project design, delivery and evaluation to a room of 60 international delegates.

Team Updates

The HYYM team experienced some exciting new developments, with Ffion Mitchell Langford starting as HYYM Project Legacy Lead - a new role focussed on maximising the legacy of the HYYM Project, increasing impact, sharing learning and ensuring that the project ends in a way that enables the local community to continue growing ocean literacy and supports the sustainable management of Liverpool Bay SPA and people's health and wellbeing. Ciara Taylor stepped into the HYYM Project Lead role, taking on the day-to-day management of the project and Kaitlin Magliano joined the HYYM team as Project Assistant.

In October, the HYYM project hosted a two-month Workstart placement in partnership with Denbighshire County Council’s Working Denbighshire. The team welcomed Natalie Lewis, a committed One Ocean Forum member and HYYM project volunteer, to the team. Nat has been an amazing addition to the team, bringing essential and valuable local knowledge as a Prestatyn resident, as well as great experience of working in communities and conservation. You can read more about Nat’s story as a volunteer here.