Ocean Youth Trust Scotland
Would you like to volunteer?
Ashore & Afloat
Ashore & Afloat
What do volunteers do within the organisation?
Our volunteers get involved in all aspects of running the organisation. 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 are members of our sea-staff team that sail on our vessels. Volunteers also help us with our shore side operations by:
- Joining one of our committees.
- Helping with refit and maintenance weekends. View the maintenance weekend dates for 2010.
- Attend events such as Boat Jumbles, Maritime Festivals and Fairs.
- Help young people prepare for their voyage by conducting a pre-voyage preparation session.
- Helping to promote OYTS.
- Helping to find young people to take part in OYTS youth voyages.
- Helping with administration in the office.
- Producing our newsletter, click here for our latest Newsletter.
- Deliver RYA Shorebased Courses.
These are just a few examples, if you are interested or can think of any other ways of getting involved and helping out please email lorraine@oytscotland.org.uk.
Volunteers afloat:
Our vessels operate 35 weeks a year. Our program consists of Youth Development Voyages Mon- Friday or Monday- Sunday residential trips onboard our vessels. We also organise training voyages for our volunteers and some corporate sailing to raise funds to make our youth voyages more affordable.
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- please click here to find out more about their roles onboard.
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 for more information please see our Training page.
Sounds great, how can I get involved?
I have sailed as a crew member onboard Ocean Youth Trust Vessels, my skipper has recommended me for Bosuns Training. (Please note you must be at least 16 years old to become a Bosun)
Step 1:Please fill in the Volunteer Application Form and return it to the office
Step 2:If your application is successful (we need to check your references and process An Enhanced Scottish Disclosure). Once this is processed we will contact you.
At this time we ask you to pay your membership fee and look at booking you on a Bosuns Weekend- please use the links on the left to see this year’s dates for Bosuns Weekends. If there are no places available or the dates are not suitable, we may look at booking you on a Bosuns Shadowing Week.
What is a Bosuns weekend? We normally run a Bosun weekend at the beginning and end of the season. The weekend is aimed at young people who have shown enthusiasm and determination to learn new skills while onboard a youth voyage. Throughout the weekend you will have a chance to get familiar with the boats and the role of a Bosun. There are normally 12 participants and up to five Sea staff onboard these training weekends.
The Bosun Weekend Syllabus.
What is a Bosuns Shadowing Week? As the name suggests, you will be shadowing a Bosun, this takes place onboard our vessels on a 5/7 days Youth Voyage. During the week you will help the Bosun with the daily checks and maintenance, learn about a Bosuns Role in the unlikely event of an emergency onboard. The sea staff will work closely with you to cover all training covered in a Bosuns Training Weekend.
The Bosun Weekend Syllabus Step 3: Once you have completed your Bosun weekend/ Bosun shadowing week, you can then apply to book on voyages- click here to see the most up to date program.
Step 4:Once you have picked dates. Voyages that suit you, please email your requests to lorraine@oytscotland.org.uk
I am interested in volunteering onboard Ocean Youth Trust Vessels
Learn more about the sea staff roles onboard. We are delighted you are keen to apply to become sea staff onboard our vessels.
Step 1: Please fill in the Volunteer Application Form and return it to the office
Step 2:If your application is successful (we need to check your references and process an Enhanced Scottish Disclosure). Once this is processed we will contact you. At this time we ask you to pay your membership fee (sailing fee is only applicable once you have completed an induction weekend and you are booked on a youth voyage). We will look at booking you on an induction weekend. To book a place email lorraine@oytscotland.org.uk
Minimum commitment from Volunteer Sea Staff:We ask Volunteer Sea Staff to attend at least one Training Weekend and one 5/7 day youth voyage per session. As the number of new volunteer sea staff often exceeds berths available on Induction Weekends, we ask new volunteer sea staff to carefully consider if they can meet our minimum commitment.
What is an induction weekend? The aim of the weekend is to allow you to experience firsthand what it is like to sail as a member of seas staff on our 70ft vessels. You will sail with 11 inductees and 5 members of sea staff. Throughout the weekend you will learn the OYTS way of sailing our vessels and delivering 7 day Youth Development Voyages. Don’t worry you are not expected to expert sailors, we will teach you the hard skills. All we require is that you are motivated and keen to sail with Young people between the ages of 12-24 on residential voyages.
When is the next Induction Weekend? Please use the link of the left to view this years training program
Step 4:Once you have completed your Induction Weekend, you will have a debrief with your skipper and he/ she will outline your next steps. Volunteers may then be recommended to sail in a “shadowing role” on a youth voyage, with the support of our other staff members, so volunteers can learn the ropes before they are responsible for leading a watch. We call this your familiarisation voyage. Depending on the individual, we may then look at completing our in-house assessments.
Ocean Youth Trust Scotland Assesments Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator after your induction weekend, to arrange your voyages/ training as recommended by the skipper. Please use the links on the left to see this year’s program.
I am interested in volunteering ashore
Step 1:Please complete the Volunteer Pack, and send it back to the office in Greenock.
Step 2:If your application is successful (we need to check your references and process an Enhanced Scottish Disclosure). Once this is processed we will contact you. At this time we ask you to pay your membership fee.
Step 3:We will invite you to a volunteer information evening to meet other volunteers and learn more about getting involved. Please use the links on the left to see our Volunteer Shoregroups.
Step 4:As a shorebased Volunteer , we will contact you via email with updates about events and training ashore. Please keep an eye on our website’s events diary and facebook group page for upcoming events.
Minimum commitment: There is no minimum commitment for Shorebased members; however we suggest you attend your local Shoregroup meetings when possible.