Speaker Evening

On Thursday 24th October,  Ocean Youth Trust Scotland was the subject of a talk at the Rotary Club of South Queensferry. Andrew Pearson from the Rotary Club of Cumbernauld explained that the trust offers week-long places to young people from 12 to 25 years old on three sailing vessels based at Greenock. During the trips, which cover the west coast of Scotland as far as the Outer Hebrides, they are taught the basics of navigation and seamanship as well as standing watches, cooking and the ship's routine. Importantly, the young sailors, who come from a wide variety of backgrounds, learn team work and self reliance in an exciting and sometimes challenging environment. Participants are drawn from state and private schools as well as other organisations and places are also available for individual participants. Andrew suggested Ocean Youth Trust Scotland might be considered by Rotary clubs as a way to provide a break for young carers and similarly deserving young people. It offers similar challenges to RYLA, but in an environment few of the youngsters will have experienced.  Members were then shown a short video of the 70ft ketch Alba Volunteer sailing off the west coast with its crew of young people. In response to questions from the floor, Andrew said the trust was funded from several sources, a principal one being the Cash Back Scheme which puts seized profits from crime to good use in the community. Each vessel takes approximately twenty young people per voyage plus qualified volunteer crew members and each place costs £800 (unsubsidised).

Andrew Pearson was introduced by Ed Kelly. The vote of thanks was proposed by Alan Armes.