How National Lottery Young Start Funding is transforming lives in Scotland

A year of youth empowerment

Over the past year, thanks to the generous support of National Lottery Young Start, Snow Camp Scotland has been able to empower young people like never before. Through this youth-led funding stream, we’ve been able to fully fund our Apprentices’ salaries and cover essential costs for our growing Youth Forum. Two vital elements of our work in Scotland.

This support has made it possible for us to stay true to our ethos: young people inspiring the next generation. Every milestone achieved this year, every success story, every leadership moment, has been made possible by those who play the National Lottery. Thank you.

Youth-led impact through our Apprenticeship Programme

At Snow Camp, we believe in the power of peer mentorship. Our Apprenticeship Programme gives young people who have completed the full Snow Camp journey the chance to become paid Apprentices – developing real-world skills while helping lead our sessions and inspire others.

With support from National Lottery Young Start, we were able to fully fund the salaries of our Scottish Apprentices during the last year. That’s more than just financial support – it’s a statement of trust in their potential.

Apprentices take on leadership roles within our programmes, support younger participants, and act as mentors throughout their journey. Alongside their work on the slopes, they also complete:

• SVQ in Sports Coaching
• BASI Level 1 Instructor Qualification
• Mental health first aid training
• Public speaking and communication workshops
• CV and career readiness support

This blend of practical experience and formal learning helps young people develop the skills, confidence, and networks they need to succeed, both in snowsports and beyond.

Elevating youth voice through the Snow Camp Youth Forum

Another crucial aspect of our work funded by Young Start is the Snow Camp Youth Forum. This growing group of young people from across Scotland provides vital feedback, ideas, and direction for how our programmes run.

Snow Camp doesn’t just support young people. It is shaped by them.

In the last 12 months, across all our Snow Camp hubs, our Youth Forum young people have volunteered 10,827 hours! Just an incredible commitment from our Youth Forum members to supporting their communities. 

The Scottish Youth Forum has:

• Organised community events and social action projects
• Helped our Scotland Wellbeing Manager with the delivery of wellbeing workshops on our First Tracks programmes
• Assisted in feeding back content and ideas for our Graduate and Excel wellbeing workshops
• Taken part in national conferences to represent Snow Camp
• Worked with our leadership team to guide programme delivery

With funding support, we’ve been able to cover travel, accommodation, and training costs, allowing our forum members to fully engage in opportunities without financial barriers. Their voice is now embedded at every level of what we do.

One year on: looking back, looking ahead

In just one year, we’ve seen young people step into leadership, take ownership of their development, and become role models for their peers. We’ve seen previously quiet individuals lead sessions with confidence, and we’ve watched them advocate for others with passion and integrity.

The support from National Lottery Young Start has enabled us to keep this work going and to plan even bigger for the future. This year, we’re excited to build on this momentum with:

• More professional development opportunities for Apprentices
• Expansion of the Youth Forum across Scotland
• Deeper links between Apprentices and local communities