New Snow Camp Apprenticeship
We are very excited to announce that teamArchie is now helping to fund a Snow Camp apprenticeship. One of our bursary recipients from last year Calum will be employed by Switch180 for 1 year working towards an SVQ Level 2 Sports Coaching qualification.
Calum really struggled at school due to a very disrupted homelife and dyslexia so severe he relies on speech to text software even to send and receive texts. The opportunities he has had through Snow Camp have been truly life changing – but let Calum tell the story in his own words and pictures
“My Snow Camp journey began when I got an invite to go by the Prince’s Trust
I did not think I would enjoy it but went anyway. After about 25min on the slope that I knew this was definitely the right decision I made. I completed the First Tracks course and got offered 6 more wks to develop my skiing skills and technique. I got into a good standard of skiing and able to listen and learn both on and off the slope.
I then completed the graduate programme in November and about a month went by. I received a surprise on my birthday 27/01/2022 when I got a message from Laura which said would I be interested in doing the Excel program and there was no other answer but YES. I was so excited with that I had to run downstairs to tell the family.
When we went back to start Excel course, I was still very excited about it but I seemed to lose a bit of what I had already learned. But gradually it all came back to me. Within the first couple of weeks I was back up to speed and able to turn quickly. By 4wks into the Excel I was able to go to the highest point, move off and do all my turns correctly and smoothly and I just felt at that time it was all falling into place.”
“Now onto Italy. Our first day skiing on real snow was an amazing experience and started training and learning from that first day from Italian instructors to have a fantastic time but also how to be safe as it was my first-time skiing on a mountain. My highlight of the week was going up the mountain on a gondola by that time I could not believe I was 3000ft above sea level. I also received a medal for being the most improved Scottish skier.
Every good thing has highs and lows, and I can assure you that I have had many, but with all my endeavour and great help from all involved at snow camp especially Laura and Carrie, I hope to carry on for a long time.”
After successfully completing the Excel course and boosted by his first experience on real snow Calum successfully applied for the apprenticeship with Switch180. The year will include work placements across the industry alongside working as a youth instructor on all Snow Camp programmes. The SVQ Level 2 Sports Coaching qualification includes leading and coaching inclusive and engaging activities that help young people change their behaviour and adopt and maintain a physically active lifestyle. On completion Calum will also be given CIMSPA (Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity) at Associate Membership level.
Calum has made a great start to the course, thoroughly enjoying supporting new young people on First Tracks. He has particularly shone when there is a young person who is really struggling with their confidence and he has given some 121 support on the slopes to a couple of people who were saying they couldn’t do it, which has resulted in the young person gaining confidence and then eventually joining the main group which didn’t look likely at the beginning! He has so much patience and empathy for young people with additional needs.
He is also doing amazingly with his SVQ work- his tutor Ty has been doing lots of his assessment stuff via recorded Zoom chats due to Calum struggling with reading/writing with his dyslexia. Ty is so happy where he’s at and Calum says Ty is the best tutor he’s ever had.
He’s currently back with the Princes Trust Team doing a placement assisting the team leader and learning loads of leadership and youth work skills, plus doing some shifts at Bearsden Ski Club.
As well as supporting Calum with his apprenticeship teamArchie will continue to provide bursaries for the Excel programme with Snow Camp. On the Excel programme young people take part in 10 weeks of advanced snowsports training with assessment by Snowsport England or Scotland. The programme includes life skills sessions throughout which focus on career opportunities, working with young people and the theory of teaching snowsports. Young people receive an Instructor qualification and First Aid and Safeguarding certificates.
