The Ellie Soutter Foundation to Close After Seven Years of Support

The Ellie Soutter Foundation has announced it will close in the coming months, after seven years supporting young athletes and championing better wellbeing in sport.

Set up in 2018 by Ellie’s father, Tony Soutter, following the tragic death of GB snowboarder Ellie Soutter, the Foundation has focused on helping athletes, particularly those from less-privileged backgrounds and has been run entirely by volunteers.

The committee said the decision was taken after “deep and emotional consideration”, explaining that fundraising has become increasingly difficult in recent years. Despite their efforts, they say they can no longer sustain the Foundation at the level it deserves.

Over the past seven years, the Foundation has:

• grant-funded five athletes

• provided financial support to a further seven

• spent thousands of euros on therapy for athletes and local community members

• raised awareness around concussion in sport and the risks of leaving it untreated

• helped open up wider conversations about athlete wellbeing

Tony Soutter said:

“I am incredibly thankful to everyone who has worked for and those who have supported The Ellie Soutter Foundation over the past seven years… What started as a way to honour Ellie’s memory became an amazing journey filled with compassion, commitment and real change… While this decision has been very difficult, we feel the time is now right to bring the Foundation’s work to a close, knowing Ellie’s legacy will live on.”

There’s a bittersweet note to the timing. Just days before the closure decision, Maisie Hill ,one of Ellie’s closest friends and the first athlete supported by the Foundation, was selected for the Great Britain Winter Olympic team. After being congratulated by Tony, Hill said: “Thank you so much to The Ellie Soutter Foundation, I wouldn’t be here without your help and support.”

The Foundation also pointed to Mia Brookes, a former recipient of its support and now a World Champion, who continues to represent Great Britain at the very top level.

The Ellie Soutter Foundation extends its deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported its work. Ellie will always remain at the heart of everything the Foundation has done and everything it leaves behind.

The Foundation was set up by Ellie’s family to support promising ski and snowboard athletes, both financially and mentally, following Ellie’s tragic death on her 18^th birthday. Maisie Hill, the first athlete to be supported by the Foundation, makes her Olympic debut at Milano Cortina 2026 this month.

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