Fellow's Profile
Fellow's Profile
Surfing can Shape Ocean Conservation, if we Challenge the Barriers
Engaging more diverse ethnic communities into ocean advocacy and conservation through surfing & fun
2025
South West
I am the first surf club founder in the UK from a mixed heritage background. I founded a surf club called Wave Wahines, which focuses on providing fun and affordable access into surfing for women and girls of all backgrounds. The creation of this club has enabled thousands of women and girls, including refugee communities, women living in refuge and women and girls from marginalised and racialised backgrounds into surfing.
The club and my time in the ocean have led me into ocean advocacy and conservation. Seeing similar barriers to access in that field as in surfing has inspired me to campaign and fight for more equitable access as Surfers Against Sewage EDI Manager.
Surfing has changed my life and I want to give back to the ocean that gives so much to so many. I have witnessed the power of surfing and the joy it gives, regardless of your level, and the more joy you have from something, your connection and will to protect it grows. I want to study the barriers to entry for surfing to inspire more communities of colour to access the activity and fall in love with it the way I have and hopefully empower and enable those communities to advocate and protect the life-giving ocean.
Yvette Cave (CF 2025) featured on the WeSurf BIPOC Surf Talk podcast, discussing her journey into surfing and the development of Wave Wahinis, a community supporting female surfers.
By Yvette Cave, 16 March 2026
All Reports are copyright © the author. The moral right of the author has been asserted. The views and opinions expressed by any Fellow are those of the Fellow and not of the Churchill Fellowship or its partners, which have no responsibility or liability for any part of them.
Yvette Cave (CF 2025) featured on the WeSurf BIPOC Surf Talk podcast, discussing her journey into surfing and the development of Wave Wahinis, a community supporting female surfers.
By Yvette Cave, 16 March 2026
All Reports are copyright © the author. The moral right of the author has been asserted. The views and opinions expressed by any Fellow are those of the Fellow and not of the Churchill Fellowship or its partners, which have no responsibility or liability for any part of them.
Engaging minoritised racial groups in the outdoors
