As part of the women’s volunteer recruitment drive we’re catching up with some of our current female volunteers to find out how they got involved in the BMC and what they love about it. First up is Louise Hawson one of our current access reps.

How long have you been involved with the BMC?
I started volunteering for the BMC in 2012 and I've been a member for about 15 years, ever since I started climbing. I joined partly because of the insurance/liability aspect, but also because I wanted to support the work the BMC does on access and conservation. I wanted to have a voice on the issues that are important to me.

What is your role for the BMC and what does it involve?
I am a local access rep in the Peak District and I also now sit on the Access Management Group. As a local access rep, I'm part of a team in the Peak District and my role is usually to review and comment on policy and other documents that come from the National Park, the National Trust and other bodies whose work impacts access and conservation for climbers and hillwalkers. The BMC was also one of the eight partners in the Dark Peak Nature Improvement Area (NIA) and I sat on the steering group and the monitoring group for that to represent the views of the BMC. The NIA was an important program for the Peak District because it brought together different partners to deliver and support conservation programmes on the high moors and bordering areas; the BMC’s role was important because we brought the views of the recreation community and other users to the table.

I also chair the Sustainability Working Group. We are a group of experts who advise the BMC on actions that it can take to address climate change and related issues such as waste and sustainable consumption. We're trying to encourage practical programs like Green Peak Gear (which existed already) and raise awareness of the impacts and solutions. So far we've had thought provoking articles like the ones in the last Summit, and a debate at SHAFF, which was held in memory of filmmaker Ben Winston, and which we hope will lead to some more practical projects this year.

It all sounds like interesting work, what motivated you to volunteer for the BMC?
I’m really interested in access and conservation and I think the BMC brings a unique perspective to these issues because it has the perspective not just of recreational users but of adventure and of encouraging people to get out and seek adventure in wild places. Volunteering for the BMC has given me the opportunity to learn much more about conservation management and access legislation, I realise this may not seem interesting to anyone else! I've also got to know the different bodies and organisations that are involved in managing our wild places and the different pressures and priorities that they have. It’s great to have an opportunity to input to some really important debates

It seems like you’ve taken on a few extra roles since joining us as a volunteer. How much time do you spend doing these roles and how do you find the time?
It can take up as much time as I want to give it! I think at the moment I probably spend about one or two days every month, but if I had more time I would definitely do more. At the moment I do as much as I can to fit with my life.

What was it like to attend your first BMC meeting?
My first Peak Area meeting was to be honest quite intimidating. I climb but I’m no great athlete, I just love being in the outdoors and the challenge that climbing brings. In the Peak area meetings you have some people who have incredible histories of climbing and adventure and who have been involved for a long time and I found that really intimidating – what on earth could I contribute in the face of all that? However as I got further involved in specific issues I feel like I have more to contribute, and the more people I talk to the more I realise they’re just like the rest of us! Also recently the introduction of the hill walking reps and the increased visibility of adventurous walking alongside climbing has brought in new people and new perspectives. We have also had some great speakers and some really interesting debates which have attracted lots of people to attend. I know the local area meeting chairs and secretaries work hard to make the meetings welcoming.

Has volunteering for the BMC benefited you?
I’ve learnt loads and met some really interesting people. It’s been a privilege to have the opportunity to meet and talk to some incredibly committed people both within the BMC and within other organisations operating in the Peak District. It’s incredible how passionate and committed people who work for organisations like the National Trust and the RSPB are – we may not always agree with them but you can’t deny that they really care about what they’re trying to achieve. I’ve also made some good friends and feel like I have a much deeper knowledge and appreciation of the landscape around me and the work that goes into managing and maintaining it

What’s the best thing about being a BMC volunteer?
Definitely the people and the depth and quality of the discussions that we have. I love the fact that the BMC is so practically focused. The usual approach to looking at new challenges or issues or questions is to focus on what can actually be done. Then when the BMC decides to act it has an incredibly powerful and influential voice, especially when it’s targeted in the right places. The BMC has an amazing amount of respect among organisations in access and conservation and that is really important for all of us who are climbers and walkers or who care about access to and enjoyment of the countryside. I also want to mention the BMC staff who are incredibly motivated and just as passionate as the volunteers. They have a culture of really respecting the work and input of volunteers and there's no sense of ‘them and us', which makes it feel worthwhile putting the effort in, you know it is appreciated. It must feel a bit like trying to herd cats at times though! Not at all, we really appreciate the fantatsic work that you and all the volunteers do and the passion and enthusiasm from volunteers is absolutley amazing.

What advice would you give to someone who might want to start volunteering for the BMC?
Get involved. Through this new volunteering campaign there will be people asking for volunteers but I think it’s also up to you to decide that you want to get involved and to put yourself forward and be ready to get stuck in. There’s a big range of things that people can do – if you’re interested in policy then there are opportunities to be involved in that but if you’re more practically interested then things like crag clean ups, work days and monitoring work. I would definitely say put your hands up and get involved. And it’s like anything else – once you are involved then you see more opportunities to do things and you find your own niche and the thing that fits with you.

The BMC TV Women in Adventure Film Competition is back and accepting submissions for 2022. So dive in, if you have a story to tell or a cause to share it's time to do so!

We want to see your adventures captured on film and keep the cycle of inspiration rolling as we head into the eighth year of the competition, supported by Montane.