Brave enough?

The BMC is clearly able to negotiate its way with politicians to develop whatever agendas it wishes to pursue. What I find surprising is that some members find reaching out to young people and accessing funding more daunting than scaling the heights. I am a BMC member and have some years experience of accessing government funding to work with young people at risk of offending - giving them opportunities to explore new skills and see that there is more to life. I agree that there are issues of short-termism in the funding; but these efforts need not be very costly, and the drive to be more inclusive has a long history. For example the Glasgow shipyards organised climbing clubs in the 1930’s, and these young men were probably of a social profile very similar to the “young offenders” of today. Surely the BMC is smart enough - and brave enough - to access funding to help boost its efforts to engage with the widest possible membership?
- Martine Marletta, Glasgow, Summit 46