It’s time to show our love for the outdoor community and help all those that have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s how to show your support:

Don’t cancel your wall membership

In these trying times many businesses have been forced to close all operations while still trying to support their staff. If you’re a keen climber then you’ll likely already know that climbing walls are a prime example of this situation.

All climbing walls were forced to close, with many choosing to do so before government restrictions were set in place. Consequently, wall staff are left wondering whether they will have jobs to come back to as the economic effects of the pandemic begin to bite. Meanwhile, self-employed coaches and route setters do not know when their next pay cheque will ever be.

 

 

 

 

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Climbing walls have been having to make some very difficult decisions this week. Regardless of their decision, the support shown by the climbing community has been incredible, particularly for centres offering to freeze memberships whilst their doors are closed. Here's a very small sample of some of the messages of support so far - it's wonderful to see people coming together in this way ❤️ Let's continue to look out for each other and stay safe #weclimbuk

A post shared by ABC Walls (@weclimbuk) on Mar 17, 2020 at 12:44pm PDT

Government help packages will be essential to support businesses and individuals through these testing times, but as a community we can also play our part. For those of us fortunate enough to be on a secure salary, the best way to do this is to continue to pay for your annual membership at your local wall, or even take one out if you haven’t already! Every penny will help ensure you have a wall to go to when this pandemic is over.

Support outdoor instructors

In the early days of the pandemic, Mountain Training and the BMC acted swiftly to stop the running courses and events in March and April, and at the moment this looks likely to be extended to May, meaning that outdoor instructors have had to postpone or cancel all their upcoming work.

Fortunately, the government has just announced support for the self-employed but these measures won’t be able to be accessed until June, leaving many outdoor instructors with little income for the next few months. If you have already booked a course, show your support by rescheduling for a later date. And if you were thinking of booking one before the crisis, then now would be a great time to help an outdoor instructor get through these tough times by booking a course to go on when we’re all finally outside once more.

Show the BMC some love

We’ll still be here when the dust settles, but if you’re able, we’d love our members to support us too. Here are a few ways you can do that:

Become a BMC member

If you’re reading this and you’re not a BMC member, then we’d love for you to join the family. You get a ton of benefits from your membership and you’ll help us out in this time of need.

JOIN: the family of BMC members

Donate to ACT

The BMC’s Access and Conservation Trust (ACT) funds projects to protect our moors and mountains. It’s a charity that aims to sustainable access to the outdoors by facilitating education and conservation projects in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Of course, we’re not going to be in lockdown forever, and when we’re all released into the wild we want to make sure it’s protected and preserved as much as possible.

ALL THE INFO: about the BMC’s ACT and how to donate

Fund the planting of Sphagnum!

On our wild moorlands grows an amazing plant called sphagnum. When sphagnum is growing healthily, this plant powerhouse takes as much carbon out of the atmosphere as a tropical rainforest. That’s why the BMC teamed up with Moors for the Future to create The Climate Project.

It costs £25 to plant one square metre of sphagnum moss and create a healthy moor. If we build up enough donations we can go on a massive sphagnum planting day once lockdown is over!

FIND OUT MOOR: about how donate to The Climate Project

More FAQs about the BMC and Covid-19

🌳 Can I go climbing / hill walking in England? Here's what you can and can't do in the 3rd Lockdown (January 2021)

🌳 What's the situation for climbing and hill walking in Wales? Read our full January update

😷 When and will the walls reopen? In England and Wales they're now closed for the National Lockdown. Read our walls article

✈️ I have a travel insurance question! Here's the FAQs

🏡 Do you have any advice for clubs and huts? Check out our latest clubs, meets and huts update

🛒 Is the BMC shop open? Yes - it is and BMC members get 10% off!

We want to say thanks to every BMC member supporting us through the Coronavirus crisis.

From weekly Facebook Lives and GB Climbing home training videos, to our access team working to re-open the crags and fight for your mountain access, we're making through with your support.

If you liked what we are doing, then tell your friends about us: www.thebmc.co.uk/join

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