Our Mission
Since the Chris Walker Memorial Trust (CWMT) was established in July 2011 the main activities have remained unchanged. “We offer avalanche awareness and safety courses for outdoor instructors and [mountain] guides, who work with members of the public taking them out into the mountains in winter”.
Our Vision
1. The provision of avalanche awareness training that meets the needs of outdoor instructors and mountain guides operating in the winter environment to keep them safe from harm.
2. Adding to outdoor instructors and mountain guides’ skills to further avalanche awareness knowledge of the public under their leadership.
3. To provide training with specific reference to the Scottish snowpack, and the prevailing avalanche problems in Scotland, while acknowledging the challenges of the rapidly changing winter climate.
Partners
The CWMT wishes to acknowledge the assistance of four partnership organisations who help to achieve and further the vision stated above. Namely, Mountain Training (MTUKI), The Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI), The British Association of Mountain Guides (BMG), and sportscotland.
Support in the form of funding in recent years has also been gratefully received from The Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI), with specific workshops for AMI members, the Scottish Mountaineering Trust (SMT) and individual donations from participants attending workshops. Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) have always been the lead body in workshop delivery, providing avalanche forecasters.
Market
CWMT acknowledge that current workshop delivery occupies a unique space within provision of avalanche awareness training in the UK, namely that of continuing professional development (CPD) for instructors. CWMT supports the development of complimentary training for outdoor instructors and mountain guides to support them in their work. As such we welcome the development of other avalanche awareness training courses in Scotland.
Thumbnail Strategy
There are three main areas where CWMT are active in the winter community.
Theme 1: Training |
Theme 2: Ski Performance |
Theme 3: Community |
|
Avalanche Awareness training. Avalanche awareness and safety courses for outdoor instructors and [mountain] guides. |
Personal skills development for ski mountaineers. Sponsored place on ‘Ski Performance for Mountaineers’ provided by BASS Chamonix and Off Piste Performance Ltd. |
Assistance to add value to the winter community. Funding relevant avalanche research. Funding community projects e.g. BAA app. |
Goals for 2023-26
Priority 1: How we deliver relevant training
• We aim to survey workshop attendees, and relevant stakeholders to ensure that workshop content remains relevant to instructors and guides as they undertake their work.
• Ensure there is adequate balance between online, webinar and face to face sessions over the winter season.
• Establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Scottish Avalanche Information Service for the continued delivery of workshops.
Priority 2: How we reach the wider community
• We aim to relaunch the CWMT website, with updated signposting to resources and information regarding avalanche awareness.
• Continue to accept narrative applications to fund avalanche related research and community projects with a focus on Scottish avalanches.
Trustees: Tim Nicholl, Ian Boorman, Alan Kimber, Jason O’Rourke, Andy Boorman, James Thacker.
July 2023.