Steering the Future of Edinburgh Watersports
What is Youth at the Helm?
Youth at the Helm (YAH) is a dynamic youth-led initiative designed to embed young voices in the heart of decision-making at Edinburgh Watersports. It empowers young people aged 14–24 to shape programmes, lead community projects, and grow as leaders.
Youth at the Helm is a structured programme that:
- Engages 8–10 young people (current and former volunteers/instructors)
- Meets quarterly, with additional summer sessions
- Is facilitated by a staff member or youth chair
Purpose:
To ensure our watersports programmes remain relevant, inclusive, and responsive to young people’s needs.
What Do Participants Do?
- Co-design volunteer recruitment and induction materials
- Advise on training content and delivery
- Review feedback and suggest improvements
- Plan and lead community action projects
- Represent youth voice in meetings with funders and partners
- Nominate peers for awards
- Organise celebration events
- Build partnerships with local youth groups and schools
Leadership & Mentorship Pathways
Youth at the Helm is committed to nurturing leadership and fostering a culture of peer support among volunteers. This pathway is designed to help young people grow into confident mentors, facilitators, and role models within the watersports community.
Key Features:
Peer Mentorship
Experienced volunteers are invited to become peer mentors, offering informal guidance and support to newer participants. This helps build trust, confidence, and a sense of belonging among the team.Training & Development
Mentors receive training in communication, active listening, boundaries, and safeguarding. These skills are essential for creating a safe and inclusive environment and for supporting others effectively.Facilitation Roles
Mentors may co-deliver induction sessions, assist in training workshops, and help facilitate group discussions. This hands-on experience strengthens their leadership and public speaking abilities.Progression
Members are given opportunities to take on more responsibility, such as leading projects or representing youth voice in external meetings.Community Building
The mentorship model encourages a supportive and collaborative atmosphere. It helps retain volunteers, strengthens intergenerational connections, and builds a resilient youth community.Alumni Engagement
Past volunteers are welcomed back as mentors or trainers, allowing them to stay connected and contribute their experience to the next generation.
Youth-Led Projects & Community Action
We aim to empower young people to design and lead projects that make a real difference in their communities. These projects are not just add-ons — they’re central to the programme’s mission of developing leadership, civic engagement, and teamwork.
How It Works:
Project Design
Each cohort of Youth Steering Group members brainstorms ideas for community action projects. These could include environmental clean-ups, mental health awareness campaigns, inclusive events, or partnerships with local schools and youth groups.Team Roles & Planning
Young people form project teams with clearly defined roles such as project lead, communications, logistics, and evaluation. Staff provide guidance on planning, budgeting, and delivery, but the creative direction remains youth-led.Delivery & Impact
Projects are delivered with support from Edinburgh Watersports staff and aligned with organisational goals. The outcomes are tangible — from cleaner beaches to increased youth engagement — and provide evidence of leadership and initiative.Skills Gained
Participants gain real-world experience in project management, teamwork, budgeting, and public engagement. These skills are transferable to employment, education, and future volunteering.Recognition
Completed projects contribute to award schemes like Saltire and Dynamic Youth Awards, and are celebrated at graduation events.
Integration with Young Instructor Pathways
This programme is closely linked with our Young Instructor Pathways programme, creating a seamless progression route for young people involved in watersports volunteering and instruction.
How They Work Together:
Shared Participants
Many Youth at the Helm members are current or former participants in Young Instructor Pathways. This overlap ensures that youth voice is informed by hands-on experience in instruction and volunteering.Leadership Development
Youth at the Helm offers leadership opportunities beyond instruction — such as mentoring, programme design, and community engagement — complementing the technical and coaching skills developed in Young Instructor Pathways.Mentorship & Peer Support
Young Instructor Pathways participants often become peer mentors within Youth at the Helm, supporting new volunteers and helping deliver induction and training sessions.Feedback Loop
Insights from Youth at the Helm help shape the content and delivery of Young Instructor Pathways. This ensures that training remains relevant, inclusive, and responsive to young people’s needs.Recognition & Progression
Both programmes contribute to a young person’s development journey, with shared access to awards, certificates, and progression routes into paid roles or further volunteering.
Young Instructor Pathways
Feedback & Evaluation
By placing young people at the centre of how we measure success and improve our programmes. Evaluation isn’t just something done to participants — it’s something they actively shape and lead.
Youth-Led Evaluation Approach:
Co-Creation of Tools
Young people help design the questions and indicators used to evaluate volunteer experiences, training sessions, and community projects. This ensures that feedback tools reflect what matters most to them.Digital Tracking & Check-Ins
Volunteers use a digital progress tracker to reflect on their development. Monthly check-ins with the Volunteer Coordinator provide space for informal feedback and support.Reflective Sessions
At the end of each term or project, participants take part in structured reflection activities. These sessions help them articulate what they’ve learned, what could be improved, and how they’ve grown.Focus Groups & Interviews
Youth Steering Group members facilitate or participate in focus groups and interviews to gather deeper insights. These conversations help uncover themes and stories that numbers alone can’t capture.Data Analysis & Presentation
Young people are involved in analysing feedback data and presenting findings to staff, funders, and partners. This builds confidence in public speaking, data literacy, and advocacy.Continuous Improvement
Feedback is used to adapt training, improve volunteer support, and shape future projects. Youth involvement ensures that changes are meaningful and relevant.
Why It Matters:
- Builds ownership and accountability
- Strengthens programme responsiveness
- Develops critical thinking and leadership skills
- Provides evidence for awards, funding, and impact reporting
Programme Timeline
Youth at the Helm follows a structured journey that supports young people from initial engagement through to leadership and reflection. Each phase is designed to build skills, confidence, and community impact.
Pre-Season: Co-Design & Planning
Before the season begins, young people help shape its structure and goals. Youth Steering Group members are invited to contribute ideas, review materials, and ensure the programme reflects youth priorities.
- Youth input on programme structure
- Co-creation of recruitment materials
- Planning for induction and training sessions
Recruitment: Outreach & Selection
We actively reach out to schools, youth groups, and past volunteers to recruit a diverse group of participants. Peer mentors play a key role in welcoming new members and supporting the selection process.
- Youth-led outreach campaigns
- Peer mentors support interviews and onboarding
- Inclusive recruitment practices
Induction: Training & Onboarding
New participants receive training in leadership, safeguarding, facilitation, and communication. Youth mentors and Steering Group members help deliver sessions and create a welcoming environment.
- Youth co-deliver induction sessions
- Training in leadership, mentoring, and safeguarding
- Team-building and goal-setting activities
Delivery: Volunteering & Projects
Participants engage in volunteering, mentorship, and community action projects. Youth at the Helm members take the lead in designing and delivering initiatives that benefit their communities.
- Youth-led community action projects
- Peer mentorship and support
- Leadership roles in training and events
Review: Reflection & Evaluation
At the end of each cycle, young people help evaluate the programme’s impact. They co-create feedback tools, participate in focus groups, and present findings to staff and partners.
- Youth-led evaluation and data analysis
- Reflective sessions and storytelling
- Presentation of outcomes to stakeholders