Donation from the Roger De Haan Charitable Trust funds
The British Children’s Alpine Skiing Development Plan
SnowsportGB is delighted to announce that an agreement has been reached with the Roger De Haan Charitable Trust, which will provide SnowsportGB with funding over three years to allow the implementation of a new Development Plan for the British Children’s Alpine Skiing. The donation of £100,000 per annum for three years will start from December 2007, and is ring-fenced by the agreement with the Trust to fund the Development Plan. The primary objectives of this Plan are:
- Provide administration support to the current British Children’s Ski Team volunteer group and then create a long-term sustainable professional set up for the British Children’s Ski Team.
- To create a clear and consistent pathway to podium for all young British Alpine Skiers.
- Establish a UK-wide Talent Identification programme, which aims to attract talented young athletes into skiing, and to encourage young recreational skiers to compete in the sport.
- Establish a long-term athlete development plan for all young competitive skiers in the UK.
- Establish a dynamic database which registers and tracks all young competitive skiers in the UK.
The funding will allow SnowsportGB to create two new full-time roles within the organisation:
National Children’s Alpine Ski Manager/National Performance Manager
This dual role position will involve one individual having the primary responsibility for the shape and delivery of the Children’s Alpine Skiing Development Plan, and working closely with the Home Nation Governing Bodies, Ski Clubs and Academies, and other organisations to achieve the objectives above. The secondary responsibility will be to act as National Performance Manager, supporting the elite performance programmes in Alpine, Freestyle, Snowboard, and Cross Country by: integrating the delivery of support services more effectively; improving the structures within the performance programmes; and improving the communication and reporting processes within the programmes. The role will commence in February 2008.
National British Children’s Alpine Skiing Coach
This individual will work within the overall set up of the British Alpine Ski Team, to professionalise the set-up of the British Children’s Ski Team, and to integrate the Children’s Team into the overall set-up of the Alpine Ski Team. The coach will work closely with HNGB’s, Clubs and Academies to offer technical coaching assistance, to develop Talent ID opportunities, and to establish consistency across the UK in the long term athlete development plans for young skiers. The role will commence in May 2008.
The Development Plan will be implemented by SnowsportGB, and will be overseen by a Steering Group, including representatives from The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust, UK Sport, the British Olympic Association, and Sports Aid. A working group will be created by the National Children’s Manager, which will include representatives of HNGB’s, clubs and academies, to provide input into the implementation of the Development Plan.
SnowsportGB is very excited about this opportunity for Snowsports and Children’s Alpine Skiing, and looks forward to working with the Roger De Haan Charitable Trust, and all the constituent members of SnowsportGB to deliver the objectives of the Plan to the benefit of all young skiers.
Mark Simmers, Chief Executive – SnowsportGB
