Jocelyn began volunteering when she joined the ROAR group run by Voluntary Action Orkney at Kirkwall Grammar School. After she left school, she got involved in other volunteering roles before joining Orkney’s Youth Local Action Group (YLAG).
As part of ROAR, Jocelyn helped plan and run events for local young people, all whilst raising funds for local charities. Jocelyn said:
Organising the bingo and raffle night was so much fun. I really enjoyed working with my friends to bake, organise and have fun while fundraising!
I enjoyed volunteering at ROAR events so much that I’ve done it many times since for different organisation. I am on the board for Young Enterprise Orkney and have supported fundraisers by baking, as well as helping to run the Young Enterprise finals. I have also volunteered with Pride in Orkney, mainly with baking and helping with front of house duties on fun days. In a different kind of role, I trained up as a Book Bug leader through my job in early years education, and provided a session for Inclusive Orkney.”
Two years ago, Jocelyn became involved with Orkney’s Youth Local Action Group (YLAG), a group of 16-30 year olds who advocate for and help fund youth projects in Orkney. An active member of the group, Jocelyn attends monthly meetings with other YLAG members, and engages with community groups to discuss youth projects. She said:
When I heard about the YLAG I was interested in seeing what it was about. I have been on a few boards and know the impact living in a small community can have on young folk.
Joining the YLAG has been nothing but positive. There's an incredible group of us who get together to support real change happening in our community. It's a delight to see and I always leave YLAG meetings uplifted.
As part of her role in the YLAG, Jocelyn attended the European Rural Parliament, in October 2025, as well as its sister Youth Parliament. She said:
It was one of the best experiences I've ever had. To meet people from all over Europe where we all share similar struggles, and joys, of rural living was one of eye-opening, uplifting, and heartwarming.
In March, Jocelyn was one of three young Masters of Ceremonies at the Orkney Youth Awards. She said:
I’ve been lucky enough to attend the Youth Awards for the last few years, supporting friends and through my involvement with YLAG. I was delighted to be asked to host this year.
Jocelyn is a great ambassador for the benefits of volunteering: new experiences, positive impact on mental wellbeing, and not least the impact she has had on the local community through her efforts. In her own words, she said:
Volunteering gives me a huge sense of pride: it never ceases to amaze me the wonderful people you can meet when you're willing to give something new a go and make a positive change in the world!
