About us

Fighting for the waters we love

Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) is a campaigning charity, founded in 1990 by surfers getting sick from sewage. We have grown into a fearless, nationwide movement of water users, campaigning for systemic change to protect the waters we love.

To win that fight, we turn evidence of pollution into people-powered campaigns. Our paddle-outs, protests and petitions have mobilised hundreds of thousands to pressure those in power to act, so polluters pay and the UK’s waters become safer to enjoy.

In recent years, we’ve put water company profiteering on the political agenda and helped drive new laws on bonuses, executive liability and transparency. We got sewage pollution onto the ballot paper at the last UK general election, and have supported 30+ communities to win bathing water status. More than 500,000 people use our Safer Seas and Rivers Service app to check for sewage before they get in the water.

Campaign by campaign, we’ve levered open a once-in-a-generation window of opportunity to transform the broken water system. Now, we are seizing the moment to end sewage pollution and deliver our vision of clean waves and thriving communities. Want to join the movement? 👇

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Our Organisational Strategy

We have a window of opportunity to transform our broken water system. This isn’t a moment we’ve stumbled into - it’s one we’ve levered open, campaign by campaign, win by win. We are ready for it.

Read the strategy

A small but mighty team

From humble beginnings in St Agnes Church Hall in 1990, we’ve stayed close to our coastal roots. These days, we’re based just up the road at our HQ, where we can keep an eye on the waves. Around 50 of us work at Surfers Against Sewage HQ full-time. And we’re small for a reason.

Both strategic and resourced, our size means we can stay responsive, independent and agile. It means we can be truthful and open, reporting on the issues and evidence from the frontline without compromise.

But we’re bigger than our team – real change takes all of us. We’re powered by a nationwide movement of supporters, campaigners, volunteers and community groups who turn their love for the water into collective action.

As an independent charity, we never take money from polluters. We answer to the people and places we’re here to protect, so we can campaign freely and loudly.

Meet the SAS team

Our mission and values

Our values guide us in every action we take. They define who we are, how we see things, what we do, and how we do it.

Find out more