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Partnerships & Communications
Our strategy reiterates our belief that learning from others – and sharing our expertise in return – can help deliver wider societal benefits and amplify our voice for boating.
We value and encourage partnerships where collaborative working leads to synergies. In addition, we strive to engage with more people and communities in more places, while continually evolving our approach and use of digital media channels to ensure our communications remain relevant, accessible and engaging.
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How we said we’d make it happen. And what we did this year.
Speaking for Scotland’s boating community
We are the trusted voice for boating in Scotland. We share our networks, knowledge and experience with partners and public agencies, advise on policy and represent the interests of Scotland’s boating community at regional and national level.
As such, RYA Scotland is a member of the Cross-Party Group in Marine Tourism, and Giant Strides, the Scottish Marine Tourism Strategy.
This reporting year, the Economic Value of Boating Tourism in Scotland Survey 2022, prepared by EKOS on behalf of RYA Scotland and partners, revealed the major contribution of boating to the Scottish economy.

Our representations and responses to government consultations are co-ordinated by volunteer Planning and Environment Officer Graham Russell, working together with the Cruising and General Purposes Committee and volunteer Coastwatchers across the regions.
This reporting year, we responded to the consultations on the Scottish Government’s Energy Strategy and Just Transition plan, and we are participating in discussions on National Marine Plan 2. Graham also held productive discussions with NatureScot on recreational boating in the proposed Highly Protected Marine Areas and the protection of moorings and anchorages within them.
As a non-statutory consultee of Marine Scotland, we receive and respond to all marine licence applications (358 this year), raising issues for recreational boaters where needed.
£84m in Gross Value Added (GVA)
3,100 full-time equivalent jobs
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358 marine licence applications received and responded to in the reporting year
Partnership with Hey Girls promotes period awareness and free products
In October 2022, as part of Scottish Women and Girls in Sport week, we launched our partnership with Hey Girls, an award-winning initiative tackling period poverty across the UK.
Our partnership with Hey Girls ensures that free period products are available to anyone who needs them at several of our places. It is our response to the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Bill, which came into force in August 2022, and is also helping to raise awareness among clubs of the impact of ‘monthlies’ on women and girls’ participation in boating. It aims to remove barriers and anxieties, so that everyone feels welcome.
“Through the partnership with Hey Girls, we have supplied sanitary products to five clubs, while a further two clubs provide free products on their own initiative,” explains Development Manager Liza Linton. “We have worked with the committees of participating clubs to ensure free products remain available after the Hey Girls supplies run out. In the coming year, we plan to run awareness education for our coaches, as well as encourage all the venues we use to participate in the initiative.” instagram.com/ryascotland facebook.com/RYAScotland twitter.com/RYAScotland linkedin.com/company/royalyachting-association-scotland tiktok.com/@rya_scotland youtube.com/RYAScotland offthewater.podbean.com rya.org.uk/gbni/scotland

We will create and deliver relevant content in a variety of formats across various platforms that our boating community can enjoy and learn from.

Join us online for the latest information and inspiration from across Scotland’s boating community. Or meet us at various events and gatherings to share your thoughts on how to get the best from your time, together on water.