Snowbility has been funded by John Lyon’s Charity since 2019 and has gone from strength to strength. It is a snow sports delivery organisation that puts children and young people with additional needs and mental health challenges at the heart of its tailored ski and snowboard coaching. Accredited by both Ofsted and the National Autistic Society (a thorough, two-year process), it is the lead partner for the Charity’s three disability snow sports grants with The Snow Sports Foundation: two internships for young people with SEND and opportunities for 35 pupils from The Schools in Partnership program to access specialist snow sports instruction at The Snow Centre.
Snowbility was founded by Ski Development Coach, Richard Fetherston, who discovered the incredible benefits that could be achieved for people with additional needs and mental health challenges through ski and snowboard coaching. His dedicated and experienced team includes two deaf snow sports instructors and two trainee instructors, Ruby and Natarlea, who previously completed the John Lyon’s Charity-funded programme and have become role models for all new young participants.
When lockdown was announced, Snowbility had already made the executive decision to shut down the slopes to ensure the safety of its children and Team. As much as the decision to close the Snow Centre was incredibly daunting and worrying, it was also seen as an exciting blank canvas of opportunity, just like the fresh snow on the slopes. There was a united understanding that services still had to be delivered in some capacity and within two weeks of the UK going into lockdown, Snowbility had already created an imaginative and accessible alternative to the slopes.
Extraordinarily, the team provided an activity led alternative via Zoom to many homes and schools of SEND children led by Snowbility’s Michael Easton, a deaf PT instructor. Utilising the Team’s individuality, knowledge, experience and passion, a virtual tailor-made form of coaching was delivered, showing many children and young people that you don’t have to be on the slopes to ski. It was this use of imaginative thinking that kept many children and young people supported throughout the lockdown.
As the UK begins to heal from the pandemic and a “new normal” sets in, Snowbility has returned to the slopes once again. However, the online sessions (which have also just been accredited by the NAS) have proved so popular that the schools will continue the Zoom sessions within their termly activities with other more advanced technology also being looked at, as the Team becomes more confident with the alternate way of working should a lockdown happen again.
One major positive Snowbility has proven is that the slopes will always be available and accessible whether it’s on the snowy slopes or in the comfort of your own home or classroom. Inclusive Snow sports can be accessible for everybody.