Help save CMC Adventure and enrich real lives!

Aim

Please join me and make a difference? Every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much

CMC Adventure (Charity No. 1062075) needs your help!  For 54 years we have been providing first class adventure and outdoor education residential courses in Snowdonia and now all that history and experience is under threat.  We need to keep together our team, our experience and look after our buildings if we are to be available to young people post COVID-19!

Young people need the outdoors. They need space to explore, learn and grow. We believe that young people develop rapidly in the residential setting and we see huge steps forward in confidence, resilience, social skills and self esteem within the activities and as a result of their time away from home. It has never been more important than it is now to instill in young people a deep love and respect for the natural world. Where better than against the stunning back drop of the Snowdonia National Park, to encourage them to think about climate change and responsible use of the world’s resources. We have worked tirelessly over a great many years to ensure that no young person is prevented from attending a life changing visit to CMC through financial hardship alone. In doing so, we have relied massively on the generosity of others, to ensure that those most likely to benefit from climbing a mountain for the first time or overcoming their fear of water as they take control of their own kayak, can afford to do so. It has always been a vulnerable position but now allows 2000 people per year to benefit!

Training and outdoor career development.  For nearly 20 years we have provided a programme where volunteers are able to gain National Governing Body outdoor qualifications whilst with us.   Qualifications such as Mountain Leader, Rock Climbing Instructor and Paddle Sports Instructor are costly and for many of our trainee instructors would be financially out of reach!  This programme is extremely successful with a pass rate for the Mountain Leader Award of 95% and 97% for the Rock-Climbing Instructor Award.  Training and preparing candidates for these awards requires high levels of skill and experience and we do not want to lose this from our team.  We know that this programme is successful with 70% of our trainees going on to work in the outdoor sector and 35% continuing in long term outdoor careers!  Please help us protect this opportunity for young people to become qualified and employable in the Outdoor Education Sector.

We have amazing supporters, who time and again have raised funds to help buy equipment, replace boilers or buy the very boats we need to do our vital work. Many give on a monthly basis already. This time it’s different – with no groups able to attend the centre, the vast majority of our income is simply gone. We cannot expect our existing supporters to fill this huge and unprecedented gap – which is why we need your help!

We are applying for grants and other sources of income and doing all we can to reduce costs – but we need your help to ensure that this established and simply brilliant facility is not lost to young people.  Please help us continue our work when our schools and youth groups return after COVID-19, ensuring these young people will still be looked after by an established and recognised centre of excellence.

Each donor will be invited to CMC Adventure to view where their donation has been invested and if they wish will be kept updated through our mailing list.

If you believe that vital education and growth happens beyond the classroom then we implore you to give as much as you are able to ensure CMC Adventure continues to Enrich Outdoor Education for years to come.  Thank you so much.

We have set the target figure as two month’s core costs. £24,000 this is the equivalent of only £12 per guest in 2019 that we are hoping to raise through Crowedfunder!  We can reclaim GIFT AID on your donations adding 25% to your gift!  We have done everything possible to reduce these costs.  Staff have been furloughed on 80% of their salary, contracts paused, and orders cancelled.  The remaining team members are donating 20% of their salaries back to the charity!  If we raise more, then that would be great, but we are asking you to help us carry on for another two months, that’s two months closer to reopening for our groups.  We have received donations to cover the short-term but as the lockdown goes on, we will potentially run out of cash in late May!   Please help protect life changing opportunities for young people, the jobs of our brilliant and dedicated team and an outdoor education centre that has such a rich heritage!  Please take the time to watch the video – I’m sure you will agree that these opportunities mustn’t be lost.

On a personal note – I have worked here for 28 years and before that stayed here as a young person a long time ago, I am personally testament to the power of outdoor residential courses!  We have grown from strength to strength and enriched so many lives.  It is unbearable to think that this provision will be lost to future generations – please help if you can.

If you would like more information or would like to discuss our specific needs please do not hesitate to contact me.

Mark Downey 

Centre Director / CEO

www.cmcadventure.org.uk

[email protected]

01341 241646

This project successfully funded on 15th May 2020