Volunteers’ Week | Nicky Youl
Nicky Youl’s volunteering CV is a room with many doors. She first volunteered as competition coordinator on the acrobatic technical committee around 15 years ago. After a brief stint away from the role, she returned to the position late last year.
Nicky also judges at competitions, is involved in running East Kilbride Gymnastics Club and volunteers at international events in different sports.
Inspirational
Nicky said:
“I volunteered at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow for gymnastics. And that kind of just started the bug. Because then I’ve done the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, I’ve done the Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Antwerp, UCI Cycling World Championships, World Athletics Indoor Championships and we’re going to the Olympics in Paris this summer.”
Nicky explained that she was initially talked into becoming competition coordinator. The former maths teacher’s love of logic and spreadsheets struck a chord with the acrobatic community, and they knew she would be a great fit for the role.
“In acrobatic in Scotland we’re a really close-knit community. Everybody kind of knows everybody else, knows their strengths and weaknesses. So, people knew I think that I would be good in the role of competition coordinator and put me forward.”
Nicky works closely with the Scottish Gymnastics events team and other technical committee members to ensure events run successfully. With countless competitions under her belt now, it is still the first competition that sticks out above the rest.
“An important moment for me was doing that first competition when we moved out of Avondale to Ravenscraig because it was on a much bigger scale. Doing a big and successful competition and to be part of that organisation and know you’ve done a great job is amazing. That’s what happens now at every competition but the first time when we moved into a new venue it was quite daunting wondering if everything would go to plan.”
Supportive
Alongside the feeling of accomplishment, there is another factor that keeps the fire burning under Nicky’s volunteering torch.
“It’s the people I suppose more than anything, not what you do. No matter where you go you seem to bump into the same people, or they know the same people. It’s that what makes it really nice, it’s the community spirit.
“It’s the same being on the technical committee. When I stopped, I went back because I missed the people and that sense of achievement when you go to a big event, and you know that you were a part of that. I missed being part of that community. It’s the people that keep you going.”
Aspirational
This is a sentiment so synonymous with volunteers that Nicky is yet to meet anyone who has had no interest in volunteering again after their first time. The veteran volunteer’s continued desire to seek out new opportunities should be enough to make anyone want to experience for themselves. However, Nicky still has some words of encouragement for those that need an extra push:
“Even if gymnastics isn’t a sport of yours, any volunteering just gives you such a good feeling. You’ll make a lot of new friends and contacts. If you’ve got an interest in just helping people and being part of something that is an exciting event, then just go for it. Everyone I know has got such a buzz out of it and gone away at the end of it wondering what they can do next.”
With the Olympics just around the corner, we wish Nicky all the best in what is sure to be an unforgettable experience.
If Nicky’s journey has inspired you, you can find information on how to get involved in volunteering with Scottish Gymnastics below. You can also find great resources on the volunteers’ week website.