Seagrass, snorkelling and teamwork: Anna’s volunteering story

Anna Williams was recently the joint winner of the Marsh Young Volunteer Award for Marine Conservation! We spoke to her to find out more about her volunteering journey.

Anna is an Ocean Rescue Champion for North Wales Wildlife Trust. She is an ambassador for seagrass and has taken part in seed collection and planting, and has spoken to politicians too!

In July, Anna was the joint winner of a very special award. The Marsh Young Volunteer Award for Marine Conservation celebrates the amazing work of Wildlife Trust volunteers who are protecting our seas.

Let’s hear more from Anna…

Anna Williams stands on a beach, in waterproof clothing and wellies, during one of her volunteer sessions

Anna, congratulations on your win! Why did you decide to volunteer for the Ocean Rescue Champions group?

I’d volunteered with the North Wales Wildlife Trust for the seagrass ocean rescue project in 2021 and had been following them on social media since. I saw a post advertising the Ocean Rescue Champions program and thought it sounded super unique and exciting and so I decided to apply.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering?

My favourite part about volunteering is all the amazing opportunities I have had - from snorkelling over seagrass meadows to meeting the deputy first minister of Wales in the Senedd. All of these experiences have been incredible and I have really enjoyed them. Another part of volunteering that I love is getting to meet so many interesting people, who have had such cool experiences. I love learning from people who are experts in the field I want to go into in the future.

What do you think you’ve gained from volunteering?

Volunteering has helped me in so many ways. Not only has it helped me decide what subject to pursue in university, but it has also helped me to gain other essential skills, such as communication and teamwork. Before I started volunteering with the North Wales Wildlife Trust, I was very quiet and shy, but now I love talking to the public about marine life at events, and have even had the opportunity to speak with politicians about my passion for our marine environment.

A group of six teenagers, volunteering with North Wales Wildlife Trust, stood on a beach, with the sea visible behind them. Anna is stood in the middle of the group

What would you say to other young people who are thinking about volunteering?

I would tell other young people that they should definitely get involved with volunteering! It’s an amazing way to develop skills and confidence, and it’s a great feeling knowing you’re making a positive impact. It’s also a great opportunity to meet people with the same interests as you.

Why does nature matter to you?

I have enjoyed being out in nature - especially being on the beach - since I was very young. I loved that there was always something exciting to see in nature, whether it was fish, insects, or plants.

As I’ve grown older, I’ve grown to appreciate nature and wildlife even more. I love that there are so many intelligent creatures in nature which behave in such interesting ways, and I love observing these behaviours.

Seeing so much diversity whilst being out in nature reminds me how important it is that we raise awareness about climate change and do our bit to help protect the planet.

What are your hopes for the future? What’s next for you?

Next year, I will be going to university to study marine biology - something that volunteering with the North Wales Wildlife Trust has greatly influenced. I hope to continue volunteering as much as I can whilst studying. In the future, I hope to continue conservation work such as seagrass ocean rescue, as it is incredibly rewarding.