What do volunteers do with OYTS

The trust employs a very small staff. We rely on volunteers at all levels throughout the organisation

Our volunteers are as diverse as the young people who sail with us, making for a great mix. One thing in they all have in common is their enthusiasm and belief that Ocean Youth Trust Scotland has the ability to bring about positive change in young people.

Our volunteers
Our volunteers get involved in all aspects of running the organisation from our Board of Trustees, committees and shore groups to Sea Staff. Without them we simply would not be able to offer adventure under sail to so many young people.

To date we have 305 members, 125 of those are members of our sea-staff team that sail on our vessels. Our volunteers contributed over 48,000 hours towards the objectives of the Trust in the course of the year.

Afloat
Volunteers sail on our vessels as sea staff at al levels – from bosuns to skippers. Although we have some paid full time skippers and first mates, we rely heavily on volunteers to staff the boats.

Onboard we have a Skipper, 1st Mate, 2nd Mate, 3rd Mate, Watchleader and a Bosun. Find out more about their roles onboard. Whilst our Skippers and First Mates are qualified to statutory levels, you can become part of our volunteer sea staff with little or no sailing experience – we offer a full programme of training for volunteer sea staff and welcome applications from across society. Find out more about becoming a member of the volunteer sea staff.

We also have a number of volunteer instructors, who deliver RYA Courses; including Day Skipper, Coastal Yachtmaster and Offshore Yachtmaster, Cruising Instructor and Yachtmaster Instructor.

Ashore
Volunteers also help us with our shoreside operations by:?

• Joining one of our committees
• Helping with refit and maintenance Weekends.
• Fundraising
• Represent OYTS at events such as Boat Jumbles, Maritime Festivals and Fairs
• Help young people prepare for their voyage by conducting pre-voyage preparation sessions.
• Helping to find young people to take part in OYTS youth voyages.
• Helping with administration in the office.
• Deliver RYA Shorebased Courses.