This year for the first time Snowsport England has run an Innovation Fund application process, for new initiatives set up by our clubs and facilities across the country. We have received a broad range of fantastic projects bids all promoting underrepresented groups, which help promote Snow sport Englands values going forward.
Snowsport England would like to thank all applicants for taking the time to apply this year. We are delighted to announce that we have chosen 3 organisations to fund for a total amount of £4000 in this years round of funding.
Please find below a summary of the successful initiatives and the amounts awarded to them.
1. Sparkbrook Ladies Deaf Ski Group bid submitted by Ackers Adventure! – £2000
Aimed at Asian women with hearing impairments living in the UK’s top 10% of deprived areas.
Sessions will be run with qualified female instructors (in line with the Muslim community requirements) and an aspiring local Asian female ski instructor who will get lots of practical experience during the sessions. The aim is for participants to become confident recreational skiers as well as enjoy the social side that the sport brings. The overall goal is to improve the participants’ lives by building their confidence and self-esteem whilst increasing their fitness and well-being
2. Visual Impairment Provision bid submitted by Kendal Snowsports Club- £1000
To benefit Visually impaired primary school aged children; KSC intend to develop specialist VI instructors as well as working with local primary schools across Kendal, the South Lakes Peninsula and beyond to enrol participants. The addition of the VI section of the club compliments the impressive work adaptive skiers both standing and sitting so far. They will invest in specialist equipment to make the sport accessible for VI skiers including Bluetooth headsets and coloured bibs. The overall aim is to build VI children’s confidence with Snowsports as well as teaching them a lifelong skill and love of the sport.
3. University of Bristol Snowsports Club (UBSC)- £1000
Aimed at helping underrepresented people such as different ethnicities, genders, LGBTQ+, demographic profiles/socioeconomic groups get into Snowsports using subsidies with beginner’s package memberships.
The package is made up of five sessions that are 2 hours each, two Gloucester Ski and three Tamworth Snowdome with the aim of the participants reaching a level whereby they feel comfortable skiing on our annual trip and getting more involved with our training sessions.
Participants will have the choice of skiing or snowboarding during the packages. The overall aim is to increase the number of underrepresented groups coming along to regular racing and freestyle sessions as well as on their annual university ski trip.
We will be providing regular updates on these great initiatives throughout the year. We are pleased to announce we are looking to run the innovation fund again in 2023 and invite lots of applications again from all the different snowsports. For more information about the innovation fund please contact steph@snowsportengland.org.uk.