Milly is 17, lives with her Mum and 4 younger siblings. She studies at college and works part time for the Andrew Simpson Centre Portsmouth as a watersports instructor. 

When Milly was 11 years old, she was a keen swimmer, training 6 hours a day, before and after school. Although she loved swimming, it was exhausting and taking up all her time and energy. In addition, she was really struggling at school academically and with friendships, and her mental health wasn't good.  

One of Milly's teachers suggested that she try the PSTT program. Milly was a bit cautious about it, as she had never done any watersports other than swimming, but she decided to give it a go. 

When Milly started the program she was nervous, as some of the other students were older and had experience of sailing and doing other watersports. However, the instructors at PSTT were great and helped her realise her potential. She loved the two-year PSTT program and fell in love with watersports, particularly windsurfing.  

Milly was then selected for a winter windsurf training program. This involved windsurfing training and competitions. In 2022, Milly was selected for the international competition – the Windsurfing Europeans and competed in Sardinia and loved it! 

As soon as she turned 15, Milly started volunteering at ASC Portsmouth and trained over the summer to be an Assistant Dingy and Windsurfing Instructor. This was all part of the Charitable Programs at ASC Portsmouth and was funded by the ASF. 

When Milly turned 16 she did her Windsurfing Instructor qualification, followed by her Dingy Instructor course a few months later. Since then, Milly has been working part-time as an instructor at ASC Portsmouth, coaches for the RYA windsurfing Regional Training Group and is doing a two-year diploma in Sports Coaching and Development. 

Milly likes teaching the younger kids and people her age mostly.

'Some young people give up easily, but that's due to fear. I was just like that! I just take them back to basics and reassure them that they will be able to do it in time, and they can. 

One of the Young people I am coaching for the RYA I actually taught to windsurf from scratch when he was really young! Now he's 11 and is training for competitions. I feel proud of this. It's nice working with the younger sailors. They get excited and feel proud of themselves when they achieve something, and that is rewarding. It's like I'm giving back for what people did for me and gave me.

I would say to young people struggling at school: give it a go, trust the instructors. I struggle to trust people, but here (PSTT and ASC Portsmouth) they're so good and help you all the way.

When Milly finishes her college course, she hopes to gain full-time employment as a watersports instructor to help young people get out on the water, just like she did.  

We couldn't be prouder of Milly and everything she has achieved over the past 6 years; she has worked so hard to get to where she is and has achieved it all so quickly at such a young age.  

Milly couldn't have done this without the support of the instructors who taught her and without the funding that enabled her to do the PSTT program and then the ASC charitable programs.  

It is essential that we keep supporting amazing young people like Milly to realise and their potential and follow their dreams.