Youth charity Snow-Camp has taken an exciting step in its development by teaming up with England’s governing body for snowsports, Snowsport England. In summer 2007, the new partnership aims to launch Snow-Camp London, a project which will use dry ski slopes and snowdomes to teach 500 disadvantaged inner city young people from across London to ski or snowboard for the first time.

Snow-Camp director, Dan Charlish said: “This is an exciting new direction for the charity. Over the past three years we have been focused on taking young people to the French Alps to learn to ski, snowboard and develop as individuals through a Life-skills course. This project will enable us to take the Snow-Camp idea and replicate it in this country, reaching many more young people.”

Snowsport England will provide access to dry ski slopes, snowdomes and instructors for the new project, whilst Snow-Camp will provide the youth workers, the young people and the Lifeskills training, which enables young people to reflect on the key issues in their lives.

Trish Chalk, Chief Executive at Snowsport England said: “We are very keen to see access to Snowsports widened to those who would not normally have the opportunity to learn to ski or snowboard. Snowsports can have so many positive impacts on young people and we are looking forward to the first Snow-Camp London courses starting in summer 2007.”

The 500 young people will be targeted through London’s network of youth clubs, working with young people living in inner city areas. “Young people from these areas are disadvantaged in many ways and need positive opportunities in their lives. Learning a new skill like skiing or snowboarding is great fun, and can have a very positive effect in terms of confidence and self esteem. We have found that combining this experience with a Life-skills course can have very positive outcomes for young people,” said Dan.

The 100 young people who complete the course will then spend a week putting their new skills into practice on a trip of a lifetime to Les Deux Alpes, France. For many of the young people attending it will be their first opportunity to leave the country, and certainly the first time to visit an alpine ski resort. Ski and snowboard gear has been generously donated by a range of companies from Mambo, Quicksilver, Westbeach and Ellis Brigham, whilst local ski hire shops and ski schools in Les Deux Alpes have agreed generous deals to support the charity.

Funding for the new project is being sought from the National Lotteries Young Peoples Fund, together with support from Snow-Camp’s ongoing funders the Skiers Trust of Great Britain. For further information please visit www.snow-camp.co.uk.