Meet your RYA North East regional volunteer team

A new team of volunteers is working with RYA North East to support clubs and centres and promote boating in the region to get more people on the water, more often.

The Regional Volunteer Team (RVT) aims to provide a point of contact between the grassroots of the sport and the RYA, raising awareness about resources and sharing best practice.

Members of the team come from across Yorkshire and the North East and are all boating enthusiasts, who between them bring a breadth of experience from their working lives and their involvement in sailing.

The team will be working closely with the RYA North East staff team, led by Regional Development Officer Sam Usher, who said: “Our sport is underpinned by the fantastic contribution made by volunteers who want to inspire others and I am extremely grateful to those who have stepped up to join the RVT. I am very much looking forward to working with the team as it develops its role to support boating in the region.”

The team aims to attend as many local events as possible – including the North East and Yorkshire Youth Sailing Traveller Series - to highlight initiatives in the region and encourage clubs to make full use of the support available through the RYA.

Following the challenges of the pandemic, the RYA has a one-year Transition Plan in place to Support the Sport, Recover Reserves and Maintain Momentum for boating over the coming year ahead of the development of a new strategic regional plan from April 2022.

RVT Interim Chair Charles Glover said: “It is an exciting time to get involved as we look to take forward the innovations of 2020 and help the sport recover from the challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic to build strong foundations for the future.

“Every member of the Regional Volunteer Team is passionate about boating for all and we are looking forward to supporting our fantastic network of clubs and centres and all those who are working hard to promote the grassroots of the sport.

“Look out for RVT members as we’ll be endeavouring to meet, greet and get to know as many people as possible, and if you’d like to support us or find out more, please get in touch as we’d love to hear from you!”

Regional Volunteer Team activities over the coming year will include:

• Providing a link between affiliated clubs and centres and the RYA, enabling a two-way sharing of views, information, skills and know-how
• Supporting RYA campaigns, events and awards to help develop a vibrant future for the sport
• Enabling venues, staff, volunteers and instructors to make the most of any funding, training and CPD (Continuous Professional Development)
• Encouraging and listening to feedback from clubs and centres to help tailor RYA support in the region
• Supporting clubs to share best practice and work together
• Facilitating the development of on-the-water and club office/management volunteer skills
• Engaging with cruising clubs and sailors.

Look out for members of the RVT at events and get in touch via chair.ne@rya.org.uk if you would like to support the work of the team, ask a question or find out more.

Meet your new team!

Interim Chair, Charles Glover: Charles’ volunteering started in 2007 as a parent supporting regional Topper activities, leading to the role of class association chairman for two years. Charles is also a former international president of the 29er class and currently Chair of Youth Events at World Sailing and a member of the Development and Regions Committee, working to grow sailing participation. Within the RYA, Charles has been involved with the Youth Racing Committee since 2010 and currently sits on the Participation and Membership Committee.

Graham Oliver: Former Commodore and currently acting treasurer of Whitby YC, Graham began dinghy sailing aged 14 through school on a local lake, moving on to windsurfing and then yachts. Gaining a Commercially Endorsed RYA Yachtmaster in 1996, which he is currently renewing, Graham has cruised and raced on the south coast and in Sydney Harbour, and now enjoys the North East coast from Whitby. Graham joined the RVT to assist in promoting sailing and watersports across all demographics to encourage participation and share the fun.

Nick Taylor: A keen dinghy sailor from the age of 13, mainly in Cadets and Merlin Rockets, Nick moved on to the Ocean Youth Club, some of this as a full time bosun in the Irish Sea, then into hotel management. Nick led on the 'renaissance' of Scarborough for Regional Development Agency, Yorkshire Forward. Now a consultant, for the last 35 years whilst living in Scarborough, Nick has sailed yachts, part owning a 707, and dinghies at Filey as an instructor. Nick has been through the flag ranks of Scarborough YC and involved with the RYA as a Regional Planning and Environment Co-ordinator for the Yorkshire coast.

Jamie Kerslake: Commodore of Ripon SC, which was a finalist in the RYA and Yachts & Yachting Club of the Year Awards in recognition of the club’s responsiveness to the challenging times of the Coronavirus pandemic, which saw it not only retaining members but also gaining new ones. Jamie is dedicated to developing sailing both within the club and across the wider region, with a focus on club and volunteer development. As a member of the RYA Race Officials Academy, Jamie also has a keen interest in promoting race management skills and development opportunities.

David Wheldon: A former chair and deputy chair of the RVT and currently treasurer, David is looking forward to supporting the new team and raising awareness about the technical knowledge and support available to clubs through the RYA, encouraging a mutually beneficial dialogue for boating across the region, including sectors such as inland waters. David is president of Sunderland YC, where he has been a member for more than 50 years, and received an RYA Volunteer Award in 2013. David sails a Beneteau 25 sportsboat, having previously sailed National 12s and Merlins in the early 70s, and also supports events as a race official.

Erica Caswell: Erica has an advisory role on the RVT. An RS400 sailor and RYA Training Principal at Yorkshire Dales SC, Erica is passionate about grassroots and instructor training. Erica is an RYA Sailing Scheme Trainer, Powerboat Instructor, Level 2 Race Coach and RYA Training Centre inspector, and an inspector for the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority and Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres. A qualified teacher, Erica retired as Head of Centre at North Yorkshire County Council’s Bewerley Park Centre for Outdoor Education in 2018. Erica ran the RS200 Northern Youth Development Squad 2015-2018 and won an RYA Lifetime Achievement Community Award in 2019.