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Ski 2 Freedom is delighted to have the support of..

Ski 2 Freedom Foundation


Ski 2 Freedom Foundation, a non-profit organisation, was created in 2007. It has now established itself as a major portal providing comprehensive information on snow-sport and mountain activities globally,  meeting the specific needs and requirements, of young people and adults whose lives are affected by physical, sensory, mental disability, special need (learning,speech & communication) life-challenging illness, mental health, trauma so that they, carers and family can regain self-confidence, become physically pro-active leading to a general sense of inclusion both within a family, local community and wider society environment and the possibility of equal employment opportunities  It is registered in the England as a company limited by guarantee.  The Foundation is currently applying for UK charity status.
 

Ski 2 Freedom was the idea of Catherine Cosby.   Her daughter Alexandra, now aged 28 has a rare neurological disorder known as Rett Syndrome and is profoundly physically and mentally disabled. "Alexandra and the many people we met in hospitals, in particular the Bristol Children's Hospital, have been so much the inspiration for Ski 2 Freedom.  Now happily residing at Douglas House Leonard Cheshire Home she continues to inspire and give strength to this project.  Sadly Alexandra has not yet been able to experience the snowy mountains but her strength of character is, I am sure, there with all those children that are able to undertake disabled skiing.  It is Alexandra’s incredible strength and courage during the course of what can only be described as a truly remarkable life, which was such an inspiration."

Catherine’s own experiences have given her a passionate understanding about using snow-sports and the mountains as a catalyst which can help children, young people and adults who have been affected by a physical, sensory or mental disability to regain self-confidence, become physically pro-active leading to a general sense of inclusion both within a family, local community and wider society environment and the possibility of equal employment opportunities.  She understands the many complex needs and requirements of an individual with a disability, or special need and why matching those needs with a ski school instructor and resort is so vital to the overall outcome of a holiday. 

Using snow-sports and the mountains as a catalyst for building self-confidence, rehabilitation,  recreational or therapeutic purposes saw the birth of this unique organisation.
 

Charitable Objective

 
The foundation’s objectives are specifically restricted to the following:

  • To provide an international resource of comprehensive information on all the elements associated with mountain activities, which meets the specific needs and requirements of people with a disability, special need or illness so that they, their family, friends and care workers can have an independent choice of location and activity.

 

  • To enlighten all members of society, regardless of nationality or social background, as to the social and well-being benefits that can be gained by children and adults with a disability, special need or life challenging  illnesses who participate in snow-sport and mountain activitie - physical disabilities (amputations, spinal cord injuries, spina bifida, etc.), blind and visually impaired, deaf and hearing impaired, trauma victims (e.g. brain injuries), learning difficulties, down syndrome, autistic, aspergers syndrome, chronic long term illnesses

 

  • These benefits bring education, self-expression, self-confidence, a discovery and improvement of existing and new skills, integration and rehabilitation, opportunities for employment and volunteering. This is not restricted to people with an existing disability, special need or life-long illness or those who may at any time suffer a life-changing experience affecting their physical or mental health, but for all members of society worldwide.

 

  • Ski 2 Freedom organises and facilitates fundraising for specific events and groups providing guidance and support to ensure projects can be realised.

 

  • Ski 2 Freedom operates to raise awareness and educate others about the benefits of assisted snow-sports and mountain activities. Through its activities and information the foundation facilitates opportunities for everyone to participate on an equal basis. It ensures that people with a disability or impairment have access to sporting and recreational activities through assessments of resorts and information gathering of activities and equipment. Through the above, the Foundation promotes social integration, possible rehabilitation, opportunities for employment and volunteering and aims to give a new lease of life to all. Ski 2 Freedom considers every individual and group regardless of nationality, social or ethnic background, disability, sex and geographical location.


 

Activities

 

  1. Provide, in answer to enquiries from disabled and/or special needs people, or their dependents, family, friends or care workers, specific information relating to winter sport and mountain activities and locations

 

  1. Carry out specific research on ski resorts and mountain areas to enhance our database of information – meeting and collaborating closely with tourist offices, adapted accommodation providers, accessible transport and other facilities required to meet the needs of disabled and special needs children and adults

 

  1. Meet regularly and work in close collaboration with ski schools, winter sport facilitators to ensure we have a deep and intimate understanding and knowledge of the instruction, opportunities and activities which they can provide for all disabilities, special needs and life-challenging illness.

 

  1. Meet and work with specialist ski equipment facilitators so that we can ensure we have the information necessary to pass on to all those with a disability, special need or life-challenging illness for their use on the mountain or to access winter sport activities

 

  1. Regularly attend events, conferences etc. with like-minded organisations, charities and facilitators to exchange and collect information to ensure we can provide up to date and informed information on services available to every child and adult regardless of disability, special need or life-challenging illness

 

  1.  Widely promote our activities, objectives and aims via the use of internet, social media and other well known sources of media publicity to raise awareness of the benefits and social interaction and inclusion to be gained from winter and mountain activities

 

  1. Promote and enhance the winter and mountain sporting activities of other charities and organisations via the use of our unique information service to ensure wider benefits to all disabled, special needs and life challenging illness sectors of society worldwide.

 

  1. Use our Directory of Information and beneficiary feedback and comments to target disability and special needs charities and organisations so that their members and beneficiaries have a better understanding of winter and mountain activities and the life changing benefits that can be achieved

 

  1. On request from specific  groups of disabilities, special needs or life-challenging illnesses we undertake to provide specific information or sign-post to relevant winter sport charities/organisations to ensure they can take advantage of winter and mountain activities

 

  1. Raise funds through networking, Friends of Ski 2 Freedom, and general awareness of the activities undertaken by Ski 2 Freedom

 

  1.  Arrange and facilitate on request  fact-finding missions requested by different winter sport and charitable organisations to that they have a better understanding of these specific activities

 

  1. Working on global projects which ensure that we reach a worldwide audience of disabled and special needs people using our unique Information Resource

 

  1. Consultancy and Intermediary :  i.e. helping to provide support and evidence to justify and substantiate a disabled person’s right to continue to work in winter sports and mountain activities (provided by our network of contacts within the winter sport industry worldwide)

 

  1. Using our unique  Information Resource on a daily basis to help other charities winter and non-winter sport related to substantially enhance their aims and objectives and thereby ensuring disabled and special needs children and adults have access to such activities

 

  1. Working to ensure that young carers and those disadvantaged by circumstances of background and lack of financial support worldwide are able to have the same advantages of others – we feel that these groups, although not having a medical disability or special need are in fact “disabled” by circumstance and have the same right to winter sports.

 

Public Benefits


To enlighten all members of society, regardless of nationality or social background, as to the social and well-being benefits that can be gained by children and adults with a disability, special need or life-long illness who participate in snow-sport and mountain activities. 
 
These benefits bring education, self-expression, self-confidence, a discovery and improvement of existing and new skills, integration and rehabilitation, opportunities for employment and volunteering not just for people with an existing disability, special need or life-long illness or for those who may at anytime suffer a life-changing experience affecting their physical or mental health but for all members of our society worldwide.
 

  • Education raises awareness  (mountains and activities)

  • Facilitating everyone to participate on an equal basis (mountain and sporting activities)

  • Ensuring that people with a disability or impairment have access to sporting and recreational activities (explanation through the assessments and information gathering)

  • Social integration

  • Possible rehabilitation (self-awareness, self-confidence, new-lease of life, new-challenges)

  • Opportunities for employment and volunteering (non-exclusive)

  • Consideration given to every individual and group regardless of nationality, social or ethnic background, disability, sex and geographical location.

 
Ski 2 Freedom Foundation acknowledges that mountain activities can be dangerous and that all clients and groups that we work with are made aware of such.

 


 


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