The Edmiston Foundation 2026: Driving change across people and oceans

The future of the maritime industry depends on more than innovation alone. It relies on expanding opportunity, strengthening communities and protecting the oceans that sustain it. These principles sit at the centre of the Edmiston Foundation’s work. 

Established in 2019, the Foundation was created to support meaningful, long-term impact across both people and planet. Since then, it has focused its efforts on two key areas: helping young people access pathways into the maritime sector, and backing environmental initiatives working to preserve fragile marine ecosystems around the world. 

Today, through partnerships with UKSA and Conservation Collective, the Edmiston Foundation continues to support programmes delivering practical change at grassroots level. In 2026, the Foundation reached a significant milestone, surpassing £1 million in funding committed to UKSA initiatives, helping to create opportunities for young people to access maritime education, training and careers regardless of their background.  

Alongside this, more than £320,000 has been directed towards environmental projects delivered through the Conservation Collective network. Together, these investments reflect a long-term commitment to expanding opportunity, protecting marine ecosystems and creating lasting impact across the maritime sector.

The Edmiston Foundation & UKSA 

In 2026, the Edmiston Foundation’s partnership with UKSA continues to support programmes that expand access to maritime education, training and career development for young people from all backgrounds. Established to broaden horizons through experiences at sea, UKSA has spent decades helping participants build confidence, resilience and employability, while ensuring financial circumstance is never a barrier to opportunity. 

Through this ongoing partnership, the Foundation helps support a number of initiatives designed to create clearer and more inclusive pathways into the maritime industry. 

One of the most significant is the Sea.Change fund, UKSA’s initiative focused on removing financial barriers to opportunity. Through fully funded placements on programmes such as the Maritime Futures Programme, young people aged 14 to 17 are introduced to life on the water through a five-day residential experience combining practical learning with water-based activities. Beyond developing confidence and teamwork, the programme provides meaningful exposure to careers across the maritime sector, helping participants envision opportunities that may previously have felt out of reach. 

The Foundation’s support also extends to UKSA’s Leave No Child Behind fund, which ensures children can access residential programmes regardless of financial circumstance. Importantly, the initiative extends beyond covering course fees alone. Funding also provides essential clothing and equipment, helping young participants arrive fully prepared and able to take part with confidence. The impact is often transformational, building resilience, independence and self-belief through shared experiences that remain long after the programme itself ends. 

For those seeking long-term careers within the maritime industry, UKSA’s bursary programme provides direct support into professional training pathways. The initiative helps remove the financial and practical barriers associated with qualifications and industry entry, enabling young people to progress into careers as superyacht crew, Yachtmaster Offshore professionals, cadets and water sports instructors. By supporting access to recognised qualifications and structured career development, the programme ensures talent and determination, rather than background, define opportunity. 

Alongside training and education, the Foundation also helps support UKSA’s welfare and pastoral provision throughout the year. This aspect of the partnership recognises that sustained success often requires broader support structures, particularly for young people facing challenges such as poor mental health, financial instability or difficult home circumstances. Through dedicated guidance, wellbeing workshops and enhanced cadet support, UKSA is able to improve retention, strengthen resilience and support long-term progression into maritime careers. 

The Edmiston Foundation & Conservation Collective 

The Edmiston Foundation is continuing its support in 2026 of grassroots conservation initiatives through its partnership with Conservation Collective, helping protect vulnerable marine ecosystems across several coastal regions around the world. 

The Conservation Collective is a global network of local foundations funding initiatives focused on environmental protection, habitat restoration and climate resilience. By supporting local expertise and community-led action, the network is able to respond directly to the unique environmental challenges facing different regions. 

Among the projects supported through the partnership is the Aegean Care for Wildlife programme, delivered through the Cyclades Preservation Fund. The initiative strengthens wildlife rescue and rehabilitation efforts across the Aegean by training local authorities, NGOs and communities in coordinated first response for endangered marine species including monk seals, dolphins and turtles. By improving rescue capabilities and fostering long-term environmental stewardship, the programme helps strengthen protection for some of the region’s most vulnerable wildlife. 

In the Ionian Sea, the Foundation also supports the Ionian Environment Foundation’s ghost net removal initiative. Abandoned fishing nets remain one of the most damaging forms of marine pollution, threatening wildlife and sensitive underwater habitats long after being discarded. Working alongside local fishers, divers and communities, the project removes harmful debris from key marine ecosystems, including Posidonia seagrass meadows, while also promoting education and collaboration to help reduce future pollution. 

The Foundation’s support also extends to sustainable fisheries initiatives across the Balearic Islands. through the Marilles Foundation and the Calant Xarxes Alliance. The programme works with fishers, restaurants and local stakeholders to encourage responsible fishing practices, strengthen compliance and promote more sustainable seafood consumption. By aligning environmental responsibility with economic resilience, the initiative supports healthier marine ecosystems while helping safeguard local fishing communities and traditions. 

Further afield, in St Vincent and the Grenadines, the Foundation contributes to two important marine conservation initiatives. The first focuses on sea turtle protection through local monitoring and conservation programmes. Community members are trained and employed to patrol nesting beaches, deter poaching and collect vital environmental data, helping strengthen long-term protection for endangered species while building local engagement in conservation efforts. 

The second supports the expansion of the Digifish initiative, which improves monitoring and oversight of small-scale fishing activity across the region. Using solar-powered tracking devices installed on fishing vessels, the programme enhances safety at sea, strengthens marine research and improves transparency within protected areas. In doing so, it supports both environmental protection and more sustainable fisheries management. 

Investing in Long-Term Change 

At its core, the Edmiston Foundation is built on the belief that meaningful progress comes through sustained, practical action. Whether creating opportunities for young people to enter the maritime industry or supporting grassroots initiatives that protect fragile marine ecosystems, the Foundation’s partnerships are designed to deliver long-term impact where it matters most. 

Through its work with UKSA and Conservation Collective, the Foundation continues to champion a more inclusive and environmentally responsible future for the maritime world — one defined not simply by access or preservation alone, but by a shared commitment to lasting change. 

To support the work of the Edmiston Foundation, please get in touch to donate today.