News

Environmental charities and non-profits working to restore and protect the natural world, combat climate change and create access to sustainable clean water supplies have been chosen as Ocean Outdoor’s 2026 Drops in the Ocean partners.

The scheme gives six beneficiaries the chance to appear at scale across some of the best Digital Out of Home (DOOH) screens in 18 UK cities to promote their work and build public support. They include long-term public participation programmes in London, Scotland, and grassroots conservation work in more than 40 other countries.

Now in its fifth year, Ocean donates 2% of its annual reported revenue in Digital Out of Home (DOOH) screen space to organisations and trouble shooters on the frontline of conservation and climate change. To date, Ocean has given close to £9 million in screen value to 25 non-profits looking to raise funds, campaign for conservation and progress important land and sea-based projects both here and overseas.    

Ocean Outdoor senior marketing manager Shona Dobson said: “Drops in the Ocean is about reconnecting us all to the natural world, turning a spotlight on the often-unsung work of those who are safeguarding wildlife habitats, protecting endangered marine life and advancing the right for everyone to have access to sustainable clean water supplies. 

“This is a transformational year in terms of developing the scale and reach of Drops in the Ocean which will be giving screen time to a range of important projects underway both here and abroad in multiple countries. We look forward to working directly with everyone involved to give these campaigns a front seat.”

The 2026 beneficiaries, chosen from a list of 20 applications, are:

London Wildlife Trust which manages 36 free-to-access urban nature reserves, teaching more than 10,000 young people each year about nature in the city, using expert ecological knowledge to transform landscapes into resilient, wildlife-rich places. 

Director of development Katie Bowyer said: “Our city has an incredible diversity of wildlife, yet much of it is under increasing pressure. That’s why it’s vital we showcase the work we do to protect and restore it - so more Londoners can recognise, value and champion nature in their neighbourhood."

Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust which protects whales, dolphins and porpoises in Scottish waters, carrying out long-term monitoring of cetaceans to generate robust datasets that are used by researchers, universities, policymakers and conservation bodies. At the heart of this work is public participation. 

Morven Summers, Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust communications manager, said: “For more than 30 years, the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust has connected people to marine conservation through citizen science, helping protect whales, dolphins and porpoises in Scottish waters. This opportunity allows us to share that message at a scale we could never achieve alone, reaching new audiences, inspiring fresh support, and turning everyday moments into meaningful connections with our seas.” 

Justdiggit, one of Ocean’s original Drops in the Ocean partners, whose primary objective is to cool down the planet by regreening degraded African landscapes, transforming vulnerable ecosystems into productive environments that benefit both people and planet. More than 500,000 hectares of land has been restored to date. 

Merel Rikvled, head of communications Europe, said: “This will make a huge difference in raising awareness about the urgent need to restore degraded landscapes and cool down our planet. We are thankful for the opportunity to share our story with such a wide audience across the UK.”

WaterAid, an international non-profit with one goal: to change the world through water. Along with decent toilets and good hygiene, a reliable supply of clean water is essential for health, dignity and a life of opportunity. Water Aid works alongside communities in 22 countries. 

Nick Miller, mass engagement director, said: “It’s hard to imagine life without water, yet this is the reality faced by nearly one in 10 people around the world who lack clean water close to home. Climate change is only making this worse. But with a reliable supply of clean water, babies are born healthier, women and girls spend less time collecting water, and whole communities can thrive. We’re delighted to partner with Ocean Outdoor and their fantastic Drops in the Ocean initiative, because together we can raise awareness and create meaningful change. Health, education, and opportunity all flow when communities have clean water.”

Fauna & Flora which works closely with local conservation partners in well over 40 countries. Work ranges from habitat destruction to illegal wildlife trade, climate change to plastic pollution, corporate sustainability to global policy. 

Alex Martel, brand and content creation manager, said: “Amplifying the voices of the local conservationists who help us to deliver this work is core to our brand and mission. Drops in the Ocean will enable us to share our global conservation stories far and wide. Nature is extraordinary, and through the campaign we hope to inspire the UK public to take a minute to value the wonder of our natural world and feel driven to take action to save it.”

Word Forest, a Devon based international charity working to tackle the climate crisis through reforestation, having already planted more than 1.5 million trees across Kenya. These forests not only help decarbonise the atmosphere, they also provide food security, reliable income and long-term environmental stability for local communities.

CEO Simon West said: “As a small international charity, winning this national platform with Ocean Outdoor is truly transformative. It allows us to share the hopeful story of community-led reforestation in Kenya, showing how planting cropping trees restores ecosystems, strengthens food security and builds climate resilience. This visibility will introduce Word Forest to new partners and supporters, providing the momentum we need to turn grassroots effort into global impact.”