An incredible 300 volunteers are helping to deliver The Tall Ships Races Aberdeen 2025, the city’s biggest event in a generation.
With just over 70 days until the majestic Tall Ships grace Port of Aberdeen in July, many of the volunteers were at a huge welcome event held at Pittodrie Stadium yesterday evening (Tue 6 May).
The eager helpers got an in-depth introduction from the organising team ahead of the event - being held between 19 and 22 July - as well as further information about their individual roles and a first chance to meet fellow volunteers.
Anyone over 16 could apply, and local residents answered the call to volunteer with an incredible surge of support.
The lucky 300 were selected and appointed last month (April) from a pool of nearly 1,400 applications. Around 60% were recruited from Aberdeen city with the rest hailing from outside the city. Defying the belief that all volunteers are retired, a quarter of recruits are under 40 years old - although two of the volunteers are in their 80s. Nearly 60% of this vital support crew are female.
They are filling a range of roles, with the largest number acting as ship liaison officers, the key point of contact between shoreside organisers and their allocated ship.
Other roles include:
- Visitor Experience Host: on the quayside to welcome visitors, provide information and deal with queries and requests
- Event Operations Shoreside Crew: general assistants to support the event operations team with the multiple tasks that ensure the smooth running of the event
- Hospitality Host: responsible for welcoming and escorting guests to the hospitality areas on board ships and VIP receptions
- Transport Coordinator: assist visitors and crew with various transport requirements such as wayfinding for bus shuttles, accessible parking, directions to bus/train stations
- Media Assistant: general media coordination including welcoming and assisting the media within the Media Centre
- Volunteer Centre Coordinator: assisting with registration, coordination, distribution of equipment and allocation of food vouchers to workforce and volunteer team
- Trainee Crew Services Assistant: providing a general information and assistance point for the visiting international youth crew trainees in the Crew Centre
- Environmental Rangers: promoting use of the recycling bins, sharing information on sustainability planning and accessibility of the event venue and engaging with the public to encourage sustainable practices.
Community spirit
Emma Wadee, Tall Ships Project Manager, said: “Volunteers are essential to delivering a successful festival and giving the international crews a warm Aberdeen welcome.
“We’d expected a couple of hundred people to sign up but to have nearly 1,400 applications for volunteer roles alone is a truly remarkable testament to the North-east’s community spirit.
“The Tall Ships team wants to thank every single applicant for their enthusiasm and support. And we are so grateful to our successful volunteers for signing up to be the helpful friendly face of Aberdeen.
“We are looking forward to welcoming thousands of residents and visitors to the largest event to come to the city in a generation and one that will put Aberdeen in the global spotlight.
“This is not just about celebrating maritime heritage; it's about bringing our community together and showcasing its vibrant spirit to the world.”
Councillor Martin Greig, Chair of The Tall Ships Aberdeen Organising Committee, said: “The successful return of the Tall Ships Races to Aberdeen for the first time in a generation will require the enthusiasm and dedication of our army of volunteers and their commitment to making this a truly wonderful event.
“Our volunteers will not only ensure the smooth running of the festival but will also be ambassadors for the Aberdeen as we welcome ships, crews and visitors from across the world; many of whom will be visiting our city for the first time.
“Our volunteer welcome event is an excellent opportunity to show how much we appreciate their participation in our four-day maritime spectacular.”
Bob Sanguinetti, Chief Executive of Port of Aberdeen, said: “The incredible response from our volunteers reflects the pride and spirit of the North East community.
“Those stepping forward to support The Tall Ships Races Aberdeen 2025 will be essential to delivering this maritime spectacular safely and successfully, while giving the international crews and thousands of visitors a warm Aberdeen welcome.”
Adrian Watson, Chief Executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “You can always count on the people of Aberdeen to rise to the occasion and in the case of the Tall Ships they have gone above and beyond.
“Thanks to their unstinting enthusiasm and willingness to give up their time, we now have a willing army of volunteers ready to make the visit of the return of these beautiful vessels a resounding success. They will play a key role in cementing the Granite City’s global reputation as a friendly, welcoming and ‘must-visit’ destination.
“We should all be proud that so many have answered the call to help the hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Tall Ships Races enjoy an unforgettable experience – while making memories that will last a lifetime for the volunteers themselves. Thank you.”
Background
The Tall Ships Races Aberdeen 2025 returns to the city this summer for the first time in nearly 30 years. It is Europe’s largest free family event and has nearly 50 Tall Ships from across the globe as well as attract 400,000 visits to the city.
The festival, which is running between 19 and 22 July, promises a spectacular celebration of maritime heritage, featuring live music, dance, theatre and a dazzling parade of sail.
The response reflects a massive regional engagement campaign that reached across sports and shopping centres, business networks and community hubs throughout the region. Launched with a fanfare in mid-October, there was over three months to spread the word before the application deadline at the end of January.
During the Tall Ships’ stay in Aberdeen, the harbour will transform from an energy hub into a world-class event space. Volunteers are essential to delivering a successful festival and giving the international crews a warm Aberdeen welcome.