The Eagle Ski Club awards grants for 3 main purposes:

• To assist younger skiers – under 35 (whether ESC members or not) to get established in ski touring or ski mountaineering or to improve their skills (Memorial Fund Awards).
• To provide training for ESC members who would like to, or currently lead tours for the club (Leader Training Grants).
• To assist ESC members (particularly younger members) to take part in ski touring and ski mountaineering expeditions – particularly to remote and little known locations (Adventure Fund Awards).

Full details of these awards are given below. Grants may also be available from the Alpine Ski Club (also see below).

Application Procedure

For all three types of award, applications should be made to the Eagle Ski Club Grants Secretary (grants@eagleskiclub.org.uk) on the Grant Application Form downloaded from the website in PDF format or as a Word Document. Anyone thinking of applying for an award is encouraged to make initial contact with the Grants Secretary to discuss the criteria of the different awards, and to discuss whether they are likely to meet these criteria.

Applications should be made at least 2 months prior to the starting date of the event which is the subject of the grant application.

The Grants Secretary co-ordinates the process, but the actual decision on any specific award is made by the Touring Sub-Committee (of which the Grants Secretary is a member).

An applicant will be notified of the success of their application, and the size of the award (these can range from £50 to £750 depending on the circumstances), normally within a month of application.

2 months prior to the event for which the grant has been awarded (course / tour / expedition), the Treasurer will contact the successful applicant to check that the applicant’s plans haven’t changed, and if all is well send the award payment to the recipient by cheque or electronic transfer. Grants are awarded for specific purposes, so if the applicant’s plans do change, they should immediately contact the Grants Secretary for guidance.

Memorial Fund Awards

The Georgina Travers Memorial Award and the Janey Reid Memorial Award (collectively the Memorial Fund Awards) provide grants to assist young skiers or mountaineers to get established in ski touring or ski mountaineering, or to improve their ski touring and ski mountaineering skills.

Applications can be made for the following purposes:

• To attend an approved ski touring or ski mountaineering course.
• To attend an instructional course to improve off-piste skiing technique.
• To attend an instructional course related to ski touring (e.g. avalanche awareness, first aid).
• To take part in a first ski tour.
• To take part in a worthwhile ski mountaineering expedition.
• Other activities approved by the Touring Committee.

Criteria

• Members of the Eagle Ski Club and non-members are equally eligible.
• Applicants must be aged under 35.
• An applicant would normally only be eligible to receive one award under this scheme, although this restriction could be waived in exceptional circumstances by the Touring Committee.

Leader Training Grants

Leader Training Grants are available to those who have already led tours for the club, or commit to lead (subject to satisfactory completion of the course, and suitable references) an unguided Club Tour within three years (or as agreed with the Touring Secretary).

Applications can be made for the following purposes:

• To attend the Advanced Ski Mountaineering Course or Tour Leaders Course in the Club’s official tour programme.
• To attend a UK-based Training Weekend Meet (e.g. First Aid Course).
• To attend a suitable instructional course (e.g. Advanced Avalanche Awareness Course).
• Other activities, approved by the Touring Committee, which would improve the skills of the applicant in preparation for leading a club tour.

Criteria

• Grants will only be made to those who have been members of the Eagle Ski Club for at least one year at the time of applying.
• Preference for Leader Training Grants will be given to those who are recommended as potential leaders by an existing Club Leader or Guide, or have suitable previous experience.
• An applicant would normally only be eligible to receive 2 awards in a 3 year period, or 3 awards in a 5 year period, although this restriction can be waived in exceptional circumstances by the Touring Committee.

Adventure Fund Awards

Drawing on the income from a donation by Roger Childs, an annual award is also available to assist Eagle Ski Club members (particularly younger members) to organise or take part in ski touring or ski mountaineering expeditions or adventurous trips, particularly to remote and little known locations.

Criteria

• Grants may be awarded either directly to individuals (to allow them to take part in an expedition), or to an expedition or adventurous trip as a whole. In the case where the grant is awarded to the whole expedition, the trip must be advertised as part of the Eagle Ski Club’s official Touring Programme, and the grant must be used for the benefit of all members of the trip (who must all be ESC members).
• Grants to individuals will only be made to applicants who have been members of the Eagle Ski Club for at least one year at the time of applying.
• All Eagle Ski Club members are eligible, but preference will be given to younger members (aged under 35).
• The proposed expedition must be well researched and organised and worthy of support.

Alpine Ski Club Award Schemes

The Eagles' sister club, the Alpine Ski Club, has two award schemes: The Kenneth Smith Scholarship and the ASC Memorial Adventure Fund. The awards are especially, but not exclusively, for young skiers. Both schemes are open to ski mountaineers and ski tourers from outside the Alpine Ski Club. Applicants for the awards are expected to already be able to ski proficiently using Alpine touring, Nordic or Telemark equipment.

These schemes can provide help for:

• Taking part in a serious ski mountaineering expedition which includes an element of exploration.
• Carrying out a research project on an aspect of ski mountaineering.
• Attending an approved course in ski mountaineering.
• Other activities, which further the knowledge and practice of safe movement in the mountains on ski.

Applications for Alpine Ski Club grants should be made to the ASC Grants Manager. More details and application forms can be found on the Alpine Ski Club website.