First Tracks
Providing young people with their first experience of snowsports combined with life-skills sessions over two action packed days.
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Are you a young person who needs help? Text BREATHE to 85258 for free and confidential support.
We work directly with youth projects and youth service providers only. This is to ensure that we are working with those who are most in need of our support.
Motivating young people to fully engage is the key to successful youth work and we have found that snowsports are incredibly attractive to inner-city young people, despite being out-of-reach for many. The opportunity to participate in snowsports acts as the tool with which we can effectively engage young people and maintain a positive involvement with them. This is achieved through our Programme Journey, which takes place at indoor snow centres in London, the North West, the Midlands and Scotland.
Our programmes run from July-June each year. All young people must start at the beginning on First Tracks and have no prior snowsports experience. Find out more about our programmes below.
Providing young people with their first experience of snowsports combined with life-skills sessions over two action packed days.
More InfoSupporting young people who wish to pursue a career in the snowsports industry and achieve a Level 1 Instructor qualification. Young people train for 10 weeks, which includes a 1 week residential trip. Young people have access to mental wellbeing workshops and 1-1 counselling sessions.
More InfoEmployment for 1 year at Snow-Camp, which includes snowsports industry work placements, an NVQ in Activity Leadership or SQL in Sports Coaching and a BASI Level 1 Instructor Qualification. Apprentices take part in mental wellbeing workshops and have access to 1-1 counselling sessions.
More InfoVolunteering and training opportunities for young people who have attended Excel. Young people also have access to mental wellbeing workshops and 1-1 counselling sessions.
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Our London programmes take place at the Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead. For more information please contact Shayleigh Kitto.
shayleigh@snow-camp.org.uk
07526 204168
Our Scotland programmes take place at Snow Factor and Bearsden Ski and Board Club in Glasgow. For more information please contact Laura McIntyre.
laura@snow-camp.org.uk
07714 754476
Our Midlands programmes take place at the SnowDome in Tamworth. For more information please contact Cormac Whelan.
cormac@snow-camp.org.uk
07719 329732
Our North West programmes take place at the Chill Factore in Manchester. For more information please contact Morv Bett.
morv@snow-camp.org.uk
07857 694953
Snow-Camp Charity have a big impact on young people across the country. At the end of our last programme year we found that:
We want to grab your attention and get you thinking about the needs of young people here in the UK. We do this through innovative campaigns.
In 2018, we launched #Switch180, a campaign that shows that more positive opportunities need to be made available to young people. More recently, in 2020, we launched Stop.Breathe.Think, a campaign that offers free counselling sessions, a 24/7 text support service and mindfulness advice to all young people – the campaign is even supported by a rap music artist! Click on the button below to find out more.
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Throughout the pandemic, I've been stuck in my hometown instead of at university, away from my partner and friends. I kept obsessing and reminiscing about things that had happened in the past. Mostly about the death of my grandfather and the way I had hurt people in the past. My main issue was that this all negatively impacted my view of myself and was causing me to lose my appetite and my usual zest for life!
This was my first experience of counselling, and it was genuinely so helpful. My counsellor helped me to gain perspective while giving me strategies and a safe place to discuss and work through some very built-up feelings. Before Stop.Breathe.Think, I felt like I couldn't breathe or smile or do anything without waves of doubt, regret and guilt over nothing and everything - now I can see a bright future and I know it's okay for me to be positive and happy. This has really changed my life!
If I hadn’t got involved with Snow-Camp I would be in a lot of trouble for doing the wrong things with the wrong people. Not because of who I am but because of the influence on the the estates. With no real direction or ambition it’s easy to get sucked into a lifestyle so many people around you are living. Snow-Camp has helped me to have a positive future and now I have a full time job in the snowsports industry!
Laquan Snow-Camp Youth Volunteer
Every young person should get the opportunity to join Snow-Camp – it’s fun, it’s exciting, it’s challenging and most importantly, it is tailored expertly for young people from a range of challenging situations and communities, including those affected by gang and knife crime. XLP have been referring young people to Snow-Camp for several years now and we can’t recommend their programmes enough.
Matt Conroy XLP Youth Worker
Through Snow-Camp I have gained so many skills that have helped me find employment in the snowsports industry. Now I don't avoid my responsibilities and I love returning to Snow-Camp each year as a volunteer, instructing the new young people joining the charity. I’ve really grown in confidence and I feel like I can take on any task in the future.
Hamza Snow-Camp youth volunteer
I have Asperger's Syndrome and a chronic illness called CFS/ME. Snow-Camp has been a life changing opportunity that has completely changed how I see myself and I have learnt that I can push myself further than I ever thought possible. Snow-Camp is a welcome respite from my responsibilities at home, both physically and emotionally. I have discovered a profound passion for snowboarding, and I can’t wait to further develop my skills.
Ashleigh Snow-Camp young person