Manchester Young People Discover New Confidence Through Snow Camp

Thirty-five young people from youth organisations across Manchester have taken part in an inspiring Snow Camp First Tracks programme, discovering that the greatest lessons learned weren’t just on the slopes, but in themselves.

Delivered over two days at the Snow Centre in Trafford, the programme gave many participants their very first experience of skiing or snowboarding while helping them develop confidence, resilience, teamwork and aspirations for the future.

The opportunity was made possible through funding secured by Manchester Outdoor Education Trust (MOET) from Manchester Youth, Play and Participation, enabling young people who might never otherwise have accessed snow sports to take part in Snow Camp’s nationally recognised First Tracks programme.

Alongside professional ski and snowboard instruction, young people participated in Snow Camp’s award-winning Life Skills sessions, exploring topics such as resilience, communication, goal setting and self-belief. The programme demonstrated that outdoor learning is about far more than sport—it creates opportunities for young people to discover their strengths, broaden their horizons and believe in what they can achieve.

Many participants arrived feeling nervous about trying something completely new. They left with new skills, new friendships and a renewed sense of confidence.

Young people finding their potential

Mario, who attended through HideOut Youth Zone, said:

“I’d never done skiing before and I really enjoyed it. I’d love to come back and one day ski in the mountains.”

Roman added:

“Learning to ski was something I’d never done before. It’s been an amazing opportunity and everyone’s been really friendly.”

Cath, Youth Worker from 4CT Youth Centre, reflected on the wider impact of the programme:

“This has been such a worthwhile experience. The young people are doing something they would never have the chance to do otherwise, but more importantly they’re learning that your background doesn’t define your future. With ambition and determination, they can achieve anything.”

A partnership creating opportunities

Jeff Seneviratne, Chair of Manchester Outdoor Education Trust, said:

“We’re proud to be working alongside Snow Camp to bring these opportunities to more young people across Manchester. We’ve already seen the positive impact the programme has on confidence, aspirations and personal development, and we’re grateful to Manchester Youth, Play and Participation for making this possible.”

Snow Camp is the UK’s only charity using snow sports to support young people, combining skiing and snowboarding with a progressive youth development pathway that helps participants build confidence, gain qualifications, develop employability skills and progress into volunteering and employment opportunities.

For MOET, the partnership represents an important part of its mission to ensure every young person in Manchester has access to high-quality outdoor learning and adventurous activities, regardless of their background or financial circumstances.

Looking ahead

Following the success of this first programme, MOET hopes to expand the partnership with Snow Camp so that many more young people across Manchester can benefit from similar opportunities in the future.

To achieve this, MOET is actively seeking new funding partners, charitable trusts and corporate supporters who share a belief that every young person deserves the chance to experience life-changing outdoor learning.

Because sometimes, the first step onto a ski slope, a hill side or a body of water can become the first step towards a brighter future.