Written by DSUK

We are seeking £15,000 to support one of our adaptive ski schools for a year. This will allow us to provide snowsport opportunities for many more disabled people, enabling them to actively access adventure.

This adventure will be provided through therapeutic, life-enhancing and exciting snowsports lessons for disabled people who require adaptive equipment and special instruction.

At the heart of our crowdfunding appeal is our desire to increase opportunities, fitness, mobility, freedom, social interaction, independence and skills of people with disabilities, and to identify and nurture the abilities of young potential athletes.

Who we are

We are Disability Snowsport UK, and we believe that skiers and snowboarders with a disability should be able to ski alongside non-disabled people as equals at all ski facitilies and resorts.

The charity started over 35 years ago from a group of like-minded people who wanted to share the joy and exhiliration of snowsports with their disabled friends and family. From a small group, we have grown into a national charity, providing thousands of disabled people with snowsport experiences.

“DSUK is a fantastic charity which works to increase opportunities, mobility and freedom for people with disabilities. I am hoping to increase awareness of the incredible work the charity delivers” – Sir Steve Redgrave

We cater for all disabilities and all age groups. Throughout the country we have local groups run by volunteers and adaptive instructors at our centres at Cairngorm Mountain, Glasgow, Hemel Hempstead, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Tamworth and Castleford. At all of our adaptive ski centres, we run a purpose built adaptive snowsports centre providing individual and group lessons almost every day of the year. Not only do we cater for adults but we run a schools and youth programme where we provide individual lessons, a series of instruction or a full week.

“I am honoured to be supporting Disability SnowSport UK and as a keen skier myself, I feel very passionately about enabling those with a disability to experience the joy of skiing alongside non-disabled people” – Pippa Middleton

We also manage, train and select the British Disabled Ski Team. The Team won 5 medals at Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games, including Britain’s first ever winter Paralympic gold medal. We spend more than £250,000 per year trying to achieve such success in order to provide an example and inspiration to the disabled community.

 We are, however, a small charity with a big remit.

What we are trying to achieve

Our mission is to promote equality and opportunity for people with disabilities to take part in snowsports. We aim to achieve this by providing life-changing snowsport experiences. Overall, we have delivered over 100,000 hours of adaptive ski instruction, many of which are the first, or only regular, social interaction our skiers and snowboarders have.

“Being able to swap my wheelchair for a sit-ski and experience ultimate freedom whilst surrounded by such wonderful, funny, inspiring and all-round selfless people leaves a permanent smile implanted on my face, and a happiness that’s impossible to measure” – DSUK member

Your support can help us reach our goal.

Visit the DSUK Crowdfunding page here