Ocean Youth Trust Scotland
Would you like to volunteer?
Volunteer of the month
Name: Gems Reid. Bosun & Chair of South Easterlies Support Group.
How did you first get involved?
Well... it was pretty random I have to say. I do dinghy sailing at school and one of the teachers said "what are you up to this weekend", I was a bit confused. He then went on to explain all about Ocean Youth Trust Scotland and that on the upcoming weekend there was an induction voyage; would I be interested? Of course! I followed the Bosun around for the weekend and thought this is awesome. I then joined South Easterlies Shore group to see if I could help out when not volunteering on board, and then I got voted to be the Chair in December 2008.
How are you involved, now? When on school holidays I will book on as Sea Staff, in Summer of last year I gave around four weeks of my time. The trips went as far North as Inveraray and as far South as Bangor. When on the weeks I met some pretty awesome young people. When not sailing as Sea Staff, I am the Chair of South Easterlies. That’s one of Ocean Youth Trust Scotland’s Shore Groups, in which we meet up and discuss how we can help young people in the Edinburgh area with funding their voyage with the Trust, and how we can promote the work that the Trust does.
Why do you volunteer?
I volunteer for the Trust as it offers a lot to young people from different backgrounds, giving them adventure at sea. It inspires positive change in a young person; it encourages life-long learning, not just being educated on the sailing, but in numeracy & literacy, and of course the great banter we have on board. So this is why I support Ocean Youth Trust Scotland; the most awesome sail training organisation.
Best memory aboard the boat?
Hmm… Has to be the whole crew laughing at my dance moves, playing Evolve on the beach, but a more rewarding memory was at the end of a voyage seeing a whole group of young people leave with their Competent Crew certificate.