Donate

Meet India – Celebrating Volunteer Week 2024

By Ellie Crowson - June 6th, 2024 | Posted in News No comments

3-9 June marks Volunteer Week, and we are taking this time to celebrate the incredible contributions our volunteers make to young people and communities across the UK.

Volunteers are pivotal in our mission to change young lives at sea. Offshore volunteers alone contribute a staggering 42,000 hours voyaging each year.

We caught up with some of our amazing volunteers and will be sharing their stories throughout the week.

Meet India, who first joined us on a school trip in 2017. Though having sailed before, this voyage inspired her to come back for more. Following a transatlantic voyage in 2019, she decided she wanted to pursue a career in maritime. India is now a Deck Officer working in the Merchant Navy and volunteers for TSYT in her spare time.

India Syms and American School XF230328

India (right) volunteering on a voyage with the American School. 

Why do you volunteer with TSYT?

“Volunteering with the TSYT is about so much more than the sailing. It’s about getting people to work together as a team, growing people’s confidence whilst getting the crew to push themselves outside of their comfort zone in a controlled and safe environment. Seeing the change within a group of young people, often who have only just met each other, throughout a voyage is so rewarding and is what I love about the nature of the charity.”

What’s your most memorable experience?

“I celebrated my 19th birthday on Challenger 3 whilst sailing from the Caribbean back to Portsmouth. The skipper and mate went above and beyond to make it a special day which I will always remember.”

How has volunteering with TSYT supported you and your career?

“Volunteering with the TSYT grew my confidence as a leader on the water enormously and made me consider embarking on a career at sea. Several years down the line, I am now a Deck Officer working in the Merchant Navy and have just completed an around-the-world yacht race [Ocean Globe Race 2023] as the Navigator for an Australian team. I couldn’t be more grateful for the introduction into the maritime world that TSYT gave me.”

Follow India on TikTok to learn more about her life on the ocean. 

@indiarose.ocean My girly life???? Alonside in the first clip #womenatsea #womeninmaritime #merchantnavy #ship #shiplife #shiptok #work #travel ♬ Just A Girl – No Doubt

Interested in becoming a volunteer for TSYT? Find out more…

Join our mailing list

Get the latest updates and news, straight to your inbox.

Add your email and we'll do the rest!