BMC Specialist Committees

Much of the work of the BMC is overseen by specialist committees made up of volunteers with relevant skills and experience, who guide the work of BMC staff.

Specialist committee terms of reference and plans are reviewed and agreed annually in December by National Council, when each specialist committee presents a report of its activities during the year and sets out its plans for the following year. The terms of reference define the membership of the committee and its key roles.

READ: December 2017 National Council meeting minutes

The BMC’s specialist committees are:

Access Management Group

The Access Management Group sets the overall direction for the BMC's access, conservation & environment work, and oversees the work of sub-groups. It also monitors the work of the BMC access officers, offering advice, support and guidance on issues of national and/or significant importance.

READ: Access Management Group: 2018 Terms of Reference

Key achievements in 2017 included:

Publishing a new version of the Southern Sandstone Code of Practice booklet, to educate climbers in how to preserve this fragile rock for future generations;
Producing a comprehensive response to the Welsh Government consultation on ‘Sustainable Management of Natural Resources’;
Publishing the Green Guide to Challenge Events in the Hills, providing minimal impact advice for event organiser and participants; and
Installing a winter conditions monitoring system on the Red Tarn Face of Helvellyn, to support protection of rare alpine arctic plants and the turf on which many winter climbs depend.

Key projects planned for 2018 include:

Organising a seminar for outdoor organisations and recreational users to discuss potential impacts and opportunities of Brexit;
Lobbying the Welsh Government to ensure implementation of access legislation change proposals in Wales;
Launching a new version of the Regional Access Database (RAD) app; and
Securing access to Craig y Forwyn, Llandulas, bringing to an end a climbing ban which has lasted over 30 years.

READ: Access Management Group: 2017 Report & 2018 Forward Plans

Child Safeguarding Group

The Child Safeguarding Group is a sub-committee of the Training, Youth & Walls Committee, and its role is to advise and support the BMC officer with responsibility for child safeguarding. It also oversees the implementation of the BMC Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adult Policies.

READ: Child Safeguarding Group: 2018 Terms of Reference

Key achievements in 2017 included:

Delivering four child safeguarding training events, as well as training for Area Youth Co-ordinators and Junior Bouldering Team Chaperones; and
Producing a young person’s safeguarding leaflet.

Key projects planned for 2018 include:

Developing and implementing an Adult Safeguarding Policy; and
Consulting with members of the GB Junior Development Squad and their parents about child safeguarding issues.

READ: Child Safeguarding Group: 2017 Report & 2018 Forward Plans

Clubs Committee

The Clubs Committee discusses matters relating to and of interest to clubs and facilitates the sharing of information between clubs. It also facilitates communication and consultation by the BMC with affiliated clubs on all matters relating to clubs.

READ: Clubs Committee: 2018 Terms of Reference

Key achievements in 2017 included:

Establishing and delivering a Clubs Roadshow programme; and
Recruiting members for a Student Advisory Group, to facilitate improved consultation and sharing of information with student clubs

Key projects planned for 2018 include:

Delivering a Clubs Seminar in April, as part of the BMC AGM weekend; and
Delivering a programme of subsidised training & support for affiliated club members and club officers.

READ: Clubs Committee: 2017 Report & 2018 Forward Plans

Competitions Committee

The Competitions Committee oversees the development of competition climbing in Britain, and is responsible for the organisation and promotion of the various British Climbing Championships, including setting the rules. It also selects a GB team to compete in international events.

READ: Competitions Committee: 2018 Terms of Reference

READ: The latest minutes of the Competition Committee meeting

Key achievements in 2017 included:

Organising a round of the IFSC Lead & Speed World Cup, and the IFSC Paraclimbing Cup at the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena;
Securing a new sponsorship agreement for the GB Paraclimbing Team; and
Establishing an exclusive facility in Manchester to enable team and development squad members to train on World Cup style boulder problems.

Key projects planned for 2018 include:

Raising the profile of the GB Climbing Team and continuing to seek external funding to support the team; and
Continuing to work with UK Sport to attain funding to run a World Class Programme moving towards the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, where climbing will make its Olympic debut.

READ: Competitions Committee: 2017 Report & 2018 Forward Plans

Equity Steering Group

The Equity Steering Group provides support on equity issues as needed by the BMC. It also oversees the development, implementation and ongoing review of the BMC Equity Action Plan.

READ: Equity Steering Group: 2018 Terms of Reference

Key achievements in 2017 included:

Publishing factsheets on climbing for people with visual impairments and people with hearing impairments; and
Establishing access to bursaries for Mountain Training awards for black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people.

Key projects planned for 2018 include:

Working towards the “Intermediate” level of the Equality Standard for Sport; and
Further development of the BMC Equity Strategy.

READ: Equity Steering Group: 2017 Report & 2018 Forward Plans

Guidebook Committee

The Guidebook Committee is responsible for the compilation, publication and distribution of definitive and select rock climbing guides to the Peak and Pennine Area, and for maintaining a comprehensive historical record of rock climbing within that area.

READ: Guidebook Committee: 2018 Terms of Reference

Key achievements in 2017 included:

Publishing Peak Limestone South, and thereby completing the latest series of definitive climbing guidebooks to the Peak District.

Key projects planned for 2018 include:

Producing a selected climbs guidebook to the Peak District, as part of the Wired Guides series published by a co-operative of UK definitive guidebook publishers.

READ: Guidebook Committee: 2017 Report & 2018 Forward Plans

Huts Group

The Huts Group represents the BMC’s interest where it has a direct involvement in the operation of a hut. It also offers advice, guidance and support to BMC affiliated clubs on the running of club huts.

READ: Huts Group: 2018 Terms of Reference

Key achievements in 2017 included:

Undertaking a comprehensive survey of club huts, examining amongst other things, hut size, usage fees, occupancy rates and booking procedures; and
Advising affiliated clubs and their members on a range of matters including fire safety and child safeguarding.

Key projects planned for 2018 include:

Delivering a Clubs Seminar in April, as part of the BMC AGM weekend; and
Continuing to review and update guidelines for hut managers.

READ: Huts Group: 2017 Report & 2018 Forward Plans

International Committee

The International Committee supports British mountaineers travelling overseas, formulates policies and advises on all aspects of mountaineering where there is an international dimension. It organises international climbing meets in the UK, and awards grants to British expeditions attempting adventurous and progressive mountaineering overseas.

READ: International Committee: 2018 Terms of Reference

Key achievements in 2017 included:

Awarding grants totalling £15,150 to 25 overseas expeditions;
Organising the BMC Summer International Climbing Meet, based at Bosigran in Cornwall; and
In a joint effort with the Alpine Club and the Mount Everest Foundation, revitalising the Alpine Climbing Group, to mentor young British alpinists.

Key projects planned for 2018 include:

Arranging representation on, and support for, foreign meets and international exchanges; and
Continuing attempts to persuade Himalayan countries to liberalise their expedition rules.

READ: International Committee: 2017 Report & 2018 Forward Plans

Land Management Group

The Land Management Group advises the BMC on legal, management and policy matters relating to land acquisition and management. It oversees the management of land in which the BMC has a freehold or leasehold interest, and other land where the BMC has land or access management responsibilities.

READ: Land Management Group: 2018 Terms of Reference

Key achievements in 2017 included:

Completing crag, boundary and path maintenance works at all BMC owned and managed sites;
Managing the Horseshoe Quarry re-bolting project and Horseshoe Heroes crowdfunding campaign;
Purchasing Crookrise Crag from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and establishing a Crookrise Advisory Group; and
Responding to and dealing with rock-scaling and vegetation clearance by an unauthorised third party at Aldery Cliff.

Key projects planned for 2018 include:

Surveying Crookrise, to enable tree thinning work to be undertaken and improve the conditions around boulders which are currently being shaded out;
Replacing steps on the Craig Pant Ifan descent path at Tremadog; and
Re-designing signage for all BMC crags.

READ: Land Management Group: 2017 Report & 2018 Forward Plans

Technical Committee

The Technical Committee provides an informed source of technical knowledge and equipment advice on safety related mountaineering equipment and its use. It undertakes technical investigation and reporting of incidents involving equipment submitted by individuals, organisations or retailers.

READ: Technical Committee: 2018 Terms of Reference

Key achievements in 2017 included:

Publishing a free-to-download booklet on using and caring for passive protection;
Running bolt workshops for BMC volunteers in the Peak District and South Devon; and
Publishing research findings on bolt anchor longevity research.

Key projects planned for 2018 include:

Publishing research findings on abseil knots and belay devices;
Undertaking tests of bolt anchors installed in the marine environment; and
Providing a club equipment seminar as part of the annual Student Safety and Good Practice Seminar.

READ: Technical Committee: 2017 Report & 2018 Forward Plans

Training, Youth & Walls Committee

The Training, Youth & Walls Committee oversees the running of the BMC’s training events, specialist training programme, and youth programme. It also oversees the BMC’s involvement with climbing walls and the work of the Child Safeguarding Group. The committee provides guidance, advice and support to those who climb, hill walk and mountaineer to help them become independent and make the transition from one aspect of the sport to another.

READ: Training, Youth & Walls Committee: 2018 Terms of Reference

Key achievements in 2017 included:

Publishing New Alpinists, a guide to taking your first steps into alpine climbing;
Oversight and delivery of the Development Squad, which provides the pool of climbers from which the GB Climbing Team is selected for international youth competitions.
Presenting a series of winter skills lectures, attended by over 1,400 people; and
Organising sport and trad climbing indoor-to-outdoor courses for 80 young people in partnership with the Association of Mountaineering Instructors.

Key projects planned for 2018 include:

Delivery of a range of coach education workshops including Physical Training, Coaching Children and Route Setting;
Publishing an updated version of the BMC Climbing Wall Manual;
Organising volunteer-led youth meets in partnership with BMC affiliated clubs; and
Publishing Improve Your Climbing, a guide to training plans and injury avoidance.

READ: Training, Youth & Walls Committee: 2017 Report & 2018 Forward Plans

Interested in joining a BMC Specialist Committee?

If you have specific skills or knowledge which you think could benefit the work of one of the specialist committees and are interested in getting involved, contact Tony Ryan at the BMC office: Email tony@thebmc.co.uk; Phone 0161 438 3334.

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