Ski Safari donates £50,000 to launch Snow-Camp Bristol

In June 2015 Snow-Camp, the innovative youth charity, launched its #5now fundraising campaign. The aim? To change the lives of 5000 inner-city young people by expanding their programme to five new cities across the UK.

As we enter our 20th anniversary year, we're proud to announce a £50,000 contribution to the #5now campaign. The pledge will launch Snow-Camp Bristol in 2016, the first city to benefit from the #5now initiative. Snow-Camp Bristol is also being supported with a £5,500 donation by professional snowboarding legend and Bristolian Jenny Jones. Jenny was the first British athlete to win an Olympic medal on snow in the Slopestyle event at Sochi in 2014. 

Ski Safari Founder and Chairman Richard Rice said: "We've been keen supporters of Snow-Camp for a few years and are thrilled to help extend their programme to Bristol. The work Snow-Camp do for young people and the snow sports industry is unique and very valuable. The charity's headquarters being nearby to our offices also means our charity team can be on hand to support Snow-Camp Bristol's launch in any way they can." 

Dan Charlish, Founder and Director of Snow-Camp shares our excitement too: "We’ve had a truly wonderful partnership with Richard and the Ski Safari team for some time now, and their donation of this size - particularly at this key time in our charity's growth - is already having an immediate impact in Bristol. We are so grateful to Ski Safari for the support and their belief in the work we’re doing with young people.’

200 young people from Bristol will participate in First Tracks, the first stage in the charity's year-long programme journey. Over two days participants aged 13 to 21 will experience snow sports for the first time and receive a BASI accredited Snowlife Award. Young people that wish to continue on the Snow-Camp journey in Bristol can progress to the Snow-Camp Graduate programme later in the year, and eventually the Excel programme (when launched), offering inner-city young people the chance to become Level 1 Qualified ski or snowboard instructors, which includes a week's skiing and tuition in the Alps (can we come, please?!).

Work has begun already with Snow-Camp working closely with youth clubs and out reach organisations to recruit young people to take part. The first Snow-Camp Bristol First Tracks programme will take place on 30 to 31 May with a second planned for 2 to 3 June 2016. 

Want to be involved? Donate to the Snow-Camp #5now campaign now

A donation of just £5 will buy life-skills learning materials for a young person. Find out more and donate to Snow-Camp #5now or contact dan.k@snow-camp.org.uk to find out how you can support their work.