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e-Newsletter May 2020
Welcome
We’re still in the grip of lockdown and in these stressful times we recognise how important hill walking and climbing is to our physical and mental well being. This is why our access team is working harder than ever to collaborate with other recreational and government bodies to ensure a safe and positive outcome for opening up the outdoors again when lockdown ends. Read on to see what the BMC has been up to.
 
The next round of area meetings will take place virtually on Zoom. Keep an eye out for area meeting emails for your invitation link and how to video to join.
 
Make sure that you submit your questions to the BMC Board in advance of the virtual AGM this June - deadline by the end of today.
Latest BMC News
BMC AGM 2020: Ask the Board
The BMC invites its members to ask questions of the Board of Directors ahead of the virtual BMC AGM 2020 by leaving a comment by Wednesday 6 May.
When will I be able to go climbing and hill walking again?
As Covid 19 restrictions show no end, many of us are wondering when we can get back to normality, and the freedom to take part in hill walking and climbing outside. Elfyn Jones from the BMC access team takes a look at the situation – and what the BMC is doing about it.
BMC achieves Intermediate level of the Equality Standard for Sport
We've just heard that the BMC has been awarded the Intermediate level of the Equality Standard for Sport. This is a framework for assisting sports organisations to widen their access and reduce inequalities in sport and physical activity, from under-represented individuals, groups and communities.
Reopening the walls: a message from the Association of British Climbing Walls
The Association of British Climbing Walls is leading an initiative to develop a set of guidelines to get walls open again safely. Working very closely through the Outdoor Industries Association and with UK Active, the ABC is conducting research in order to provide a solid foundation for the recommendations that will follow.
Live: the BMC team answer your questions
During these times of climbing and hill-walking lockdown, our dedicated team of staff has been giving weekly access updates and responding to your questions through a series of live Q&As on our Facebook page. Missed them at the time? Not to worry, you can catch up on all the answers here:
Club development during lockdown
We’re stuck inside at the moment and most ‘normal’ club activities are on hold, but that doesn’t mean that clubs can’t consider improving their systems and structures during lockdown.
ACT now: be a part of the BMC's conservation charity
The BMC Access & Conservation Trust (ACT) is looking to recruit two new trustees. This opens up an exciting opportunity to get involved with the BMC's access and conservation charity.
What is the BMC access team doing right now?
Life in lockdown is more behind the scenes than normal, but the important work of the BMC Access Team has continued throughout: communicating with the government to discuss official advice, fighting access bans and illegal closures of paths and preparing for when restrictions are lifted so that we can all get back in the outdoors as quick as possible. Here are the key things the team has been up to:
The BMC and the Climate Crisis
The Climate Crisis is already affecting large parts of the world, including upland and mountain areas that we love and which form the basis of our outdoor activities. As climbers, walkers and mountaineers, we all have a responsibility to try and reduce our impact.
Best of BMC TV: Top five mountain inspiration films
Where are you currently getting your mountain inspiration from? Are the walls in your house lined with photos and paintings of stunning peaks? Your social media feeds endlessly presenting you with trails and skylines to add to the list of places to go once lockdown has ended? We're here to add to that by giving you five more films to keep your inspiration levels up. Enjoy the watch.
Best of BMC TV: Top five trad climbing films for lockdown
Do you hear that? Nuts, cams and hexes chinking together to create the tune of tradventures out on rock. Okay, so the gear jingles may be faint echoes these days, but fear not, we're bringing them back. We've headed down into the BMC TV archives and pulled out our favourite trad climbing films to make up for this temporary trad absence. Sit back, relax and watch our top five picks:
Supporting club members during lockdown
All over the country, club life has ground to a halt as huts are closed and meets are cancelled. But many clubs are pulling together to look out for one another and showing that social distancing doesn’t have to mean social isolation.
Shauna Coxsey reconfirmed for Team GB in 2021 Olympics
Sport Climber Shauna Coxsey is the latest athlete to be reconfirmed as selected for Team GB for the Tokyo Olympic Games, following its postponement.
Update: on CCPG work
Updates are available here on GB Climbing, the newly formed internal department of the BMC designated with looking after and giving future direction to all things connected with Competition Climbing.
Which BMC events are cancelled or postponed due to Coronavirus?
Here is the updated list of all cancelled or postponed BMC events:
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The BMC (British Mountaineering Council) is the representative body that exists to protect the freedoms and promote the interests of climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers, including ski-mountaineers. The BMC recognises that climbing, hill walking and mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions.
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