SnowsportGB has announced that it has secured funding from the Roger De Haan Charitable Trust for a "British Children’s Alpine Skiing Development Plan". They will receive £100,000 per annum for three years starting from December 2007...which is "ring-fenced by the agreement with the Trust to fund the Development Plan."
SnowsportGB's Press release described the primary objectives of this Plan as:
Quote: |
Provide administration support to the current British Children’s Ski Team volunteer group and then create a long-term sustainable professional set up for the British Children’s Ski Team.
To create a clear and consistent pathway to podium for all young British Alpine Skiers.
Establish a UK-wide Talent Identification programme, which aims to attract talented young athletes into skiing, and to encourage young recreational skiers to compete in the sport.
Establish a long-term athlete development plan for all young competitive skiers in the UK.
Establish a dynamic database which registers and tracks all young competitive skiers in the UK.
The funding will allow SnowsportGB to create two new full-time roles within the organisation:
National Children’s Alpine Ski Manager/National Performance Manager
National British Children’s Alpine Skiing Coach
The Development Plan will be implemented by SnowsportGB, and will be overseen by a Steering Group, including representatives from The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust, UK Sport, the British Olympic Association, and Sports Aid. A working group will be created by the National Children’s Manager, which will include representatives of HNGB’s, clubs and academies, to provide input into the implementation of the Development Plan. |
In recent years, SnowsportsGB have not been short of critics in regard to their support for child racers.
So, do you race children?
Is this essential infrastructure to develop better British racing kids'?
Is this great news? Good news?
Or is it money spent on paying grown-ups to work in offices that could be better spent elsewhere?