BMC Equity Webinar Series

The BMC is running a series of webinars delivered by members of its internal committee for helping to guide matters of Equity in the BMC, the Equity Steering Group. These will be about 45 minutes to an hour long and are free for BMC, MTA and AMI members.

The following workshops will be available:

1. Equity initiatives in the BMC

2. LGBTQ+ Clubs

3. Racial Equality & Diversity and the Outdoors

4. Women in the Outdoors

These webinars have been recognised as 0.25 of a CPD point for members of MTA

You can register for the webinars below and 24 hours before it begins you will receive an email with a link to the webinar.

The dates for the workshops are:

24th February: Equity initiatives in the BMC REGISTER HERE

2nd March: LGBTQ+ Climbing Clubs REGISTER HERE

7th March: Ethnic Diversity and the Outdoors REGISTER HERE

21st March: Women in the Outdoors REGISTER HERE

Information on each workshop:

1. Equity initiatives in the BMC (James Mchaffie)

This webinar will look at the work of the Equity Steering Group in helping to guide the BMC and its partners around matters of equity since its formation in 2007. It will look across numerous aspects involving under-represented groups as well as looking at what was involved to attain the Intermediate Equality Standard.

The Equity Steering Group is a specialist committee of the BMC and is composed of 5 sub-groups: Ethnic Diversity, LGBTQ, Gender Equality, Disability and Mental Health.

2. LGBTQ+ Climbing Clubs (Michael Phillips, Robert Dufton, Char Harrison, Kieran Woolley)

This webinar will give an overview of some of the terminology before looking at the reasons the 'Not so Trad' and 'Let's go belay and boulder together' clubs were developed. It will look at the impact of isolation on LGBTQ people both broad community and within the outdoors and how a club can help. A look at the history and value of community and non-alcoholic community for LGBTQ people and tips and ideas for starting your own group.

3. Racial Equality & Diversity and the Outdoors (Mohammed Dhalek)

This webinar will introduce why race equality matters in the outdoors and our role across the sector in addressing racism. It will provide a snap shot of the issues of race equality perspectives in outdoor settings, along with approaches for action at grassroots and strategic levels. This will enable a consideration of implications for everyday practices and strategic change, alongside highlighting the challenges of responding to race equality in the outdoors, moving from talking to action and change.

4. Women in the Outdoors (Dr Adele Doran, Emily Davis)

This webinar focuses on women’s experiences of the outdoors – from participants and someone working in the outdoors perspectives.
It provides a snapshot of the issues women face, along with approaches fellow walkers and climbers, clubs, and the outdoor sector might take to support women on their outdoor journey. Topics covered will include women’s barriers to the outdoors, the benefits of the outdoors for women and creating a welcoming and equitable environment for women. The webinar draws on industry and academic literature to underpin discussions and recommendations.

Bios for people delivering workshops:

James Mchaffie BMC Youth & Equity Officer (he/him)

James has worked for the BMC for 6 years overseeing various events, activities and resources for young people and under-represented groups. He has been secretary for the BMCs Equity Steering Group since 2018 and spent much of his time in 2019 working on the Intermediate Equality Standard. James is particularly keen on improving pathways and opportunities for people from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Char Harrison (they/them)

Charlie is a South West based outdoor educator who has worked as a climbing instructor (CWI) and currently works as an outdoor educator for a young peoples charity They are passionate about climbing, coaching people through fear, and growing the climbing community, and is a founding member of Let’s Go Belay and Boulder Together (LGBTQ+ & Friends) cc.

Kieran Woolley

Kieran is a climber and climbing instructor (RCI) based in the South West. He is a founding member of Let’s Go Belay and Boulder Together (LGBTQ+ & Friends) cc and is passionate about developing and participating in climbing communities of all kinds.

Mike Phillips

Mike is a climber and has previously worked as an outdoor instructor and Youth worker. Mike is the Founder and Chair of Let’s Go Belay and Boulder Together (LGBTQ+ & Friends) cc (LGBT – Devon's LGBTQ+ Climbing Club). He is currently studying a PhD exploring support for Non-Binary gendered Young People and is passionate about making the outdoor community as inclusive as possible.

Robert Dufton

Robert is a founder member and past president of Not So Trad Southern LGBT Climbers club, the first LGBTQ climbing club to affiliate to the BMC( www.notsotrad.org/). He is also a member of the Climbers' Club. Robert volunteers with the BMC, representing the London & South East area on Members’ Council, as a member of the board Nominations committee and chairs the LGBTQ group within the Equalities Steering Group.

Mohammed Dhalek

Mohammed has been a member of the BMCs Equity Steering Group for many years and is the sub-group lead for Ethnic Diversity. He has been working on numerous EDI projects for decades as well as being a super keen walker. Mohammed helped instigate the BMC into going towards the Intermediate Equality Standard and has been a driving force for the Equity Symposiums in recent years.

Dr Adele Doran

Dr ADELE Doran is a researcher, consultant, lecturer and speaker of outdoor recreation and adventure tourism. Her research primarily focuses on women adventure participants. Projects include women’s constraints negotiation in climbing and mountaineering; women’s (mis)representation in adventure media vs women’s own adventure representations; and women outdoor entrepreneurship. Other areas of interest include well-being and the outdoors, adventure charity challenge events, and diversity in the outdoors.

Adele is an enthusiast of the outdoors – walking, climbing, running, road cycling and snowboarding – which have inspired her research and guided her career from a snowboard instructor to an academic, a researcher and being on the BMC’s Equity Steering Committee.

Emily Davis (intersectional feminist in progress)

Her knowledge around Women experiences in the outdoors grew experientially whilst studying Adventure Tourism Management at the University of the Highlands and Islands, when she realised she could combine her own experiences, current sexism in the Industry and tie it all together with Feminist theory to further learn about how we can make the outdoors a more inclusive and equitable environmental for all.

Emily is the Production Co-ordinator at Kendal Mountain Festival. This includes programming content across the Festival, presenting sessions, interviewing speakers and supporting the inclusion of a more diverse line up - and learning how to improve on this each year.

She can often be found dreaming about the Scottish Highlands, whilst in the hills of the Lake District either on her trusty gravel bike or enjoying multi pitch routes in the mountains.

BMC travel insurance is loaded with the essential cover that you need for adventure.

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Our new Covid-19 cover includes:

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Medical and repatriation: Covid-19 related illness
Being denied boarding: if you test positive for Covid-19 prior to your return home

Read more about the Covid-travel FAQs here