Sussex Bay Champions Breakfast

Hosted by Dr. Aline da Silva Cerqueira, Sussex Bay will be introducing their Champions Network, a new, community-led programme launching this Autumn to support the recovery of our coast and sea.

The Sussex Bay Champions Network is a new, community-led programme launching this autumn to support the recovery of our coast and sea. It will bring together a group of local Champions from across all 11 Sussex districts and Brighton & Hove, who will help connect communities to Sussex Bay’s vision for marine restoration.

These Champions will act as trusted connectors – sharing information, listening to local priorities, and shaping future plans. The programme is grounded in the idea that marine recovery must be relevant, inclusive, and shaped by the people who live and work along our coast.

We’re building a network that reflects the full diversity of Sussex – Champions from all walks of life and backgrounds, including young people, neurodiverse and multiethnic communities, and those not typically involved in environmental initiatives. We’re also inviting Champions from different trades and sectors – artists, business owners, educators, fishers, environmentalists, and more. This ensures we’re not only reaching every corner of Sussex geographically, but also connecting with the wide range of people who make this place what it is.

Through local workshops, training, and peer support, Champions will become visible, active contributors to marine recovery – helping us build a clearer picture of “who’s who” in Sussex and how we can work together for the future of our seas.