Honour for Hampshire sail training CEO

Mark Todd © Ocean Youth Trust South

Ocean Youth Trust South is delighted to announce that Chief Executive Mark Todd has been made an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours List.

The citation says: "For services to Sailing and to Young People."

Mark has been Chief Executive of Ocean Youth Trust South since 2010 and was previously Staff Skipper for nine years. He is also Chair of the Association of Sail Training Organisations, an RYA Yachtmaster Instructor, a Yachtmaster Examiner, and sits on the Yachtmaster Qualifications Panel. He was the inaugural winner in 2011 of the MCA/ASTO Award for Command Commitment to Sail Training and is an Associate Fellow of the Nautical Institute and a Younger Brother of Trinity House.

Mark Todd says: "It feels very special to have been awarded an MBE for my work in sail training. I am passionate about the power of sail training to make a lasting positive difference to young people, and I hope to use this award to bring wider recognition to the industry.

"When I started sailing with the Ocean Youth Trust, I saw at first-hand what sail training can do for young people - improving their wellbeing and helping them reach their true potential. That was 25 years ago, and I have enjoyed being part of the sail training community ever since. It is the best activity I have ever come across for promoting confidence, resilience, teamwork, communication and problem-solving - as well as friendship, fun and adventure.

"Sail training has certainly changed my own life. Having spent a good part of my childhood in and out of hospital due to scoliosis, missing out on a lot of education, when I told a teacher that I wanted to go to university they openly laughed in my face - and my parents were very much against me taking up dinghy sailing. Yet I became a lawyer and then a sail training skipper before taking on my current role.

"Every day in sail training you meet wonderful young people - many of whom face their own challenges in life. I admire how they can embrace opportunity and valiantly try to find their way in an increasingly complex world. Many meet those challenges in a hugely impressive fashion; others just need a stepping stone to help them get their lives on track, and sail training can often give them that breakthrough moment.

"In my time with OYT South and also lately as Chair of ASTO, I have sailed and worked with some remarkably interesting, inspiring and extremely dedicated staff and volunteers. Sail training is all about teamwork and although the MBE is a personal award, nothing I do would be possible without the fantastic individuals right across the industry whose work ensures that thousands of young people get the benefit of a life changing experience at sea. I thank everyone who has played a part in my journey so far. I'm incredibly proud of the sail training community.

"Anyone aged 11-25 who might benefit from an adventure at sea, or any adult who wants to volunteer on board or support our work in other ways can find out more about Ocean Youth Trust South at www.oytsouth.org and about the wider world of sail training via the Association of Sail Training Organisations at uksailtraining.org.