The Polar Academy
The Polar Academy is a Scottish charity that runs an 18-month youth development programme for 13–18-year-olds facing mental health challenges, bullying, or trauma, combining physical training, mental resilience coaching, and a culminating winter Arctic expedition to East Greenland, fully funded through corporate partnerships, charitable trusts, and donations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersBo'ness, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Polar Academy does
The Polar Academy is a Scottish-registered charity (SC044605) founded in 2013 by Craig Mathieson that delivers an intensive 18-month youth development programme for 13–18-year-olds experiencing mental health challenges, bullying, trauma, or low confidence. The charity works through Scottish secondary schools, selecting 10 pupils plus one teacher per school (typically running two schools per cohort for ~30 participants annually) and training them through physical fitness, mental resilience coaching, cold chamber exposure, tyre-hauling endurance work, and wilderness camping skills. The programme culminates in a winter sledge-hauling expedition in the Tasiilaq region of East Greenland, where participants also conduct scientific data collection (LiDAR, eDNA sampling, microplastic tracking, snow density, sea ice salinity) that feeds into global climate databases maintained by GEUS, the Scott Polar Research Institute, and the IPCC.
The core programme is delivered at a fully funded cost of £25,000 per participant, with no charge to families. Revenue is derived from corporate partnerships (BRP, Tiso Group, Baillie Gifford, Polar Capital, Craneware, and others), charitable trust grants (National Lottery Community Fund, The Hargreaves Foundation, Hugh Fraser Foundation, The Murdoch Forrest Charitable Trust, Allander Youth Activities Charitable Trust, Holywood Trust), individual patrons, and public donations via JustGiving. Distribution is direct-to-school, with schools applying to participate and committing to 12+ months of facility access and teacher involvement. The operational team is lean (4 staff: Craig Mathieson, Lorna Craig, Jake Mathieson, Val Smith) supported by a large volunteer guiding team, trustees, and expedition doctors. The charity has served 240 young people directly since inception, with each graduate required to speak to over 3,000 peers, generating claimed reach to over 90,000 community members annually.
The Polar Academy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Polar Academy
- Legal name
- The Polar Academy
- Website
- https://thepolaracademy.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Polar Academy is a Scottish charity that runs an 18-month youth development programme for 13–18-year-olds facing mental health challenges, bullying, or trauma, combining physical training, mental resilience coaching, and a culminating winter Arctic expedition to East Greenland, fully funded through corporate partnerships, charitable trusts, and donations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Polar Academy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Development and Outdoor Education Charity Services
- NAICS
- Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Outdoor Education & Adventure Programs (School-Run) (EDAJAJAJ), Winter Sports & Snow Training Schools (Ski, Snowboard, Ice Sports) (MPAKAJAI)
Keywords
Where The Polar Academy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bo'ness
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Polar Academy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Corporate Partnerships: The charity receives support from businesses through sponsorship agreements. Corporate partners include BRP (global powersports leader), Tiso Group (outdoor equipment retailer), and other companies. Partnerships provide funding, equipment, or both.
- Personal Patrons: Individual supporters who contribute financially to support the charity's mission. Patrons receive updates on the programme and create a legacy supporting transformative youth charity work.
- Charitable Trust Funding: Support received from various charitable organisations and trusts including National Lottery Community Fund, The Hargreaves Foundation, Hugh Fraser Foundation, The Murdoch Forrest Charitable Trust, Allander Youth Activities Charitable Trust, and others.
- Public Donations: The charity accepts donations through JustGiving platform and its own website. Individual donors can support specific programmes or general operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Fully Funded Programme - £25,000 per participant |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Polar Academy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Polar Academy delivers an intensive 18-month youth development programme for 13-18 year olds who are 'invisible' in Scottish secondary schools, combining weekly physical training, mental resilience coaching, cold chamber exposure, wilderness survival skills, and a culminating winter sledge-hauling expedition in Tasiilaq, East Greenland. All 30 places per cohort are fully funded at £25,000 per participant through charitable donations, corporate partnerships, and trust grants, with no cost to families. The programme also integrates scientific research (LiDAR, eDNA, snow density, microplastics) contributing data to global climate databases.
Product overview
The Polar Academy is a single, unified charitable programme — not a platform with modular products. Its core offering is an intensive 18-month youth transformation programme combining physical training, mental resilience building, and a culminating Arctic (East Greenland) winter expedition. The programme does not subdivide into separately branded or sold product modules; all elements (selection, training, Arctic expedition, post-expedition peerInspiration, STEM data collection, cultural exchange with Greenlandic youth, and alumni support) are integral components of the single charitable intervention delivered to selected 13–18-year-olds.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Polar Academy Programme An intensive 18-month youth transformation programme for 13-18 year olds facing mental health challenges, bullying, bereavement, or trauma, combining weekly physical training, mental resilience coaching, Arctic winter expedition preparation, a winter sledge-hauling expedition in East Greenland, post-expedition peer-inspiration talks to 3,000+ peers, and ongoing alumni support. All 30 places per cohort are fully funded at £25,000 per participant through charitable donations, corporate partnerships, and trust grants at no cost to families.
Quantifiable outcome
- 240 young people and their families directly impacted since 2013
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use The Polar Academy
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Polar Academy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
The Polar Academy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- BRPcoreBRP (Bombardier Recreational Products) is a global leader in powersports products, propulsion systems and boats. They partnered with The Polar Academy through their 'Ride Out Intimidation' Programme, marking the first UK charity partnership for this programme. The 3-year partnership supports the charity's mission to transform bullied young people into leaders and role models.
- Tiso GroupcoreTiso Group is the leading national retailer of outdoor clothing and equipment in the UK, founded 60 years ago. Chris Tiso, CEO of Tiso Group, co-founded The Polar Academy and serves as Chair of the charity. Tiso Group provides equipment sponsorship and has been the inaugural sponsorship partner since the charity's inception.
- ÅsnessupportingNorwegian ski manufacturer Åsnes supplies high-quality skis, poles and skins to The Polar Academy. The partnership provides expedition-grade equipment for Arctic expeditions.
- Bergans of NorwaysupportingBergans of Norway supplies cold weather clothing and equipment for expeditions, ensuring participants have appropriate gear for Arctic conditions.
- Glenmore LodgesupportingThe Scottish National Outdoor Centre provides training facilities for selection weekends and residential training weeks. Their staff support the Polar Academy's training programme in the Cairngorms.
- The Explorers Club Great Britain and IrelandsupportingThe Polar Academy has wide and varied support and recognition from The Explorers Club Great Britain and Ireland chapter, connecting the charity with the global exploration community.
- University of OxfordcorePartnership with the School of Geography and the Environment at Oxford University. Students present scientific research findings at Oxford, and Dr Katrin Wilhelm collaborates on LiDAR research as part of the Lab-In-Your-Pocket project. Six students presented Arctic research at Oxford in June 2024.
- University of Cambridge (Scott Polar Research Institute)coreThe Scott Polar Research Institute (SPRI) collaborates on scientific research including snow density measurements and environmental data collection that feeds into the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) database.
- University of St AndrewscorePartnership with the School of Geography at St Andrews for scientific collaboration. Dr Tom Cowton from St Andrews collaborated on sea ice salinity sampling. Fiona McPherson supports the schools' outreach programme with The Polar Academy.
- Geological Survey of Denmark (GEUS)corePartnership for snow density measurements contributed to GEUS's global, open-source database. The remote east side of Greenland has limited data, making Polar Academy contributions particularly valuable for climate modelling.
- 5Gyres InstitutesupportingCollaboration with marine scientists Dr Marcus Eriksen and Dr Lisa Erdle from the 5Gyres Institute to track microplastic pollution across East Greenland. Data will be published to an open-source microplastics database.
- Nature MetricssupportingPartnership with UK-based biotechnology startup for environmental DNA (eDNA) testing and sequencing kits to sample species diversity across East Greenland. Data contributes to their 'eBioAtlas' mapping biodiversity change.
- CranewaresupportingCorporate supporter of The Polar Academy.
- Genoa BlacksupportingCorporate supporter providing wireless infrastructure services.
- Elliot Brown WatchessupportingCorporate supporter providing watches for the expedition team.
- Greenlandic GovernmentcoreWorking with the Greenlandic Government and developing a project specifically for Greenlandic kids to undertake a tailored version of The Polar Academy programme. The Tasiilaq community in East Greenland provides pivotal support for annual expeditions.
- RabsupportingOutdoor equipment manufacturer providing equipment sponsorship for expeditions.
- Track RecordsupportingCorporate supporter providing coaching services.
- CBSsupportingCorporate supporter (GLM brand).
- Links DesignsupportingDesign agency providing creative support.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights7 records
The Polar Academy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- The Prince's Trust: The largest UK youth charity, supporting disadvantaged 11-30 year-olds through training, mentoring and personal development programmes. Overlaps with The Polar Academy on target beneficiary group (disadvantaged young people) and youth development outcomes, but addresses a much broader brief at significantly greater scale.
- The Duke of Edinburgh's Award: National youth achievement award programme combining volunteering, physical activity, skills and expedition sections. Comparable on the use of expeditions as a youth development tool and UK secondary school channel, but operates as an accreditation framework rather than a single delivery charity.
Direct peers
- Brathay Trust: UK charity using outdoor activity and adventure experiences at its Lake District base to improve outcomes for vulnerable children and young people. Comparable in target beneficiary group, residential outdoor adventure model and charity-funded structure.
- The Outward Bound Trust: The UK's leading outdoor education charity for young people, delivering residential adventure programmes to develop resilience, confidence and teamwork. Highly comparable to The Polar Academy in target audience (vulnerable youth), outdoor adventure methodology, and residential/wilderness delivery model.
- Raleigh International: Charity running structured international expeditions for young people, combining adventure with community and environmental projects. Comparable in expedition-based youth development format and charity-funded model, though typically focused on developing-country deployments.
- The Youth Adventure Trust: Charity working with vulnerable 11-14 year-olds from disadvantaged urban areas, combining outdoor adventure, residential programmes and ongoing mentoring support. Directly comparable in mission (vulnerable youth transformation through outdoor adventure) and UK charity structure.
- Wilderness Foundation UK: Charity delivering wilderness-based education and conservation programmes for young people, with strong focus on emotional wellbeing and personal development. Closely aligned to The Polar Academy on wilderness-as-therapy positioning and youth mental health outcomes.
- British Exploring Society: Charity that takes young people on wilderness expeditions to remote and wild environments (including the Arctic) as a vehicle for personal development. Closest direct peer to The Polar Academy given its expedition-based, youth-development format and polar/remote-wilderness destination mix.
Regional players
- Snowsport Scotland: Scottish national governing body for skiing and snowboarding, delivering winter sports participation and instruction programmes. Comparable on winter sports skill-building and Scottish geography, but focused on mass-participation snowsports rather than youth-development expeditions.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Polar Academy social profiles
Digital presenceThe Polar Academy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Polar Academy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
The Polar Academy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Polar Academy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Polar Academy
What does The Polar Academy do?
The Polar Academy delivers an intensive 18-month youth development programme for 13-18 year olds who are 'invisible' in Scottish secondary schools, combining weekly physical training, mental resilience coaching, cold chamber exposure, wilderness survival skills, and a culminating winter sledge-hauling expedition in Tasiilaq, East Greenland. All 30 places per cohort are fully funded at £25,000 per participant through charitable donations, corporate partnerships, and trust grants, with no cost to families. The programme also integrates scientific research (LiDAR, eDNA, snow density, microplastics) contributing data to global climate databases.
Is The Polar Academy a public or private company?
The Polar Academy is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Polar Academy founded?
The Polar Academy was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Polar Academy based?
The Polar Academy is headquartered in Bo'ness, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Polar Academy make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Corporate Partnerships are the primary driver. The others are personal Patrons, charitable Trust Funding and public Donations.
Who are The Polar Academy's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are The Prince's Trust and The Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Direct peers are Brathay Trust, The Outward Bound Trust, Raleigh International, The Youth Adventure Trust, Wilderness Foundation UK and British Exploring Society. Snowsport Scotland is listed as a regional player.
Does The Polar Academy have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Polar Academy.
What industry is The Polar Academy in?
The Polar Academy's product category is Youth Development and Outdoor Education Charity Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAAOAA, Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning), with a secondary code of EDAJAJAJ, Outdoor Education & Adventure Programs (School-Run). Its NAICS code is 61162 and its SIC code is 8200.