Snow sports used to combat disabilities and mental health issues in the UK

Snow sports are acting as a valuable life-changing tool for people with additional needs and mental health problems.

Since its launch in 2011 Snowbility has helped over 10,000 people to gain from both the physical and psychological benefits of skiing and snowboarding.

With a slogan, “It’s cool to be different,” the company welcomes students from all walks of life, backgrounds and with various needs and problems, including learning disabilities and autism, and encourages them to get involved with winter sports.

Snowbility, which was founded by keen skier and ski development coach Richard Fetherston, is based at The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead, an indoor real-snow slope 20 minutes outside of London. It offers the opportunity to learn in the safe and stable environment of the indoor centre throughout the year, providing many of its students with an experience they might otherwise not have felt confident enough to try.

“We aim to enrich the lives of our students, parents, carers and teachers we work with, by giving people with additional needs and rehabilitation challenges the opportunity to develop both emotionally and physically through skiing and snowboarding,” said Richard.

The carefully selected and experienced team at Snowbility are all qualified instructors and are either BASI (British Association of Snowsports Instructors) or IASI (Irish Association of Snowsports Instructors) registered.

“We have a team of fully qualified ski and snowboard instructors with the knowledge, experience and passion to provide tailor-made coaching for a wide range of complex physical, psychological and mental health needs, including learning disabilities, autism, dyspraxia and deafness,” said Richard.

Snowbility’s approach to teaching skiing and snowboarding technique is integrated with other skills such as social interaction, confidence, self-esteem, concentration and motivation. The flexible coaching methods used by the team help every student in a different way.

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“My son has had a wonderful relationship with his ski team and it has given him confidence to cope with being on a ski slope, which he otherwise wouldn’t have been able to, had he just gone skiing with a school,” said Tanya James, whose son Santino is mildly autistic and has hypermobility syndrome.

“It’s helped him with his balance and coordination in a very fun and sporting way,” said Tanya.

Richard Fetherston, Snowbility

The coaches aim to give their students a sense of achievement and pride through a personalised learning programme suited to their individual needs. Through this achievement Richard believes it enhances their social, emotional and communication skills, while also improving fitness.

“Once we get our pupils skiing and their families start to see the changes, then they all benefit; everyone gets involved. It’s truly humbling to see lives change in such a positive way,” said Richard.

Richard and his staff are calling for more exposure of the dramatic improvement snow sports can bring to the lives of people with additional needs. Recently one of its students, George, who has Glaucoma, Sturge-Weber syndrome and is on the autistic spectrum appeared on the BBC to tell his story of how skiing has helped him shape his hopes and dreams for the future.

“I’d probably like to help people to learn to ski, but also get famous and maybe one day go to the Olympics or the Paralympics,” said George when asked what he’d like to do with his new skiing skills.

“Socially it has given him so much confidence, because now he is a skier,” said George’s mother Gina.

“It’s the best job in the world. As a team we like nothing more than seeing the progress of our students, people like George,” said Richard.

Snowbility caters for pupils of all ages from children as young as five years old to adults over the age of 65. It runs lessons, both private and group, seven days a week at The Snow Centre. Booking are available through the website and an application form.