AMI and Mountaineering Councils
What are the specific benefits to AMI members being members of a mountaineering council?
The BMC, Mountaineering Scotland and Mountaineering Ireland see there being significant value in kind, in addition to the more ‘transactional’ elements listed below. Fundamentally, the Mountaineering Councils campaign for and advocate safe access to the outdoors for both professionals and recreational users, so AMI members benefit from affiliation in a multitude of ways.
Working on behalf of AMI interests
AMI members being a member of their mountaineering council supports the work that we carry out on their behalf where there may be threats to AMI members in their work.
Click through to read one example where former BMC Access Officers took the National Trust to task on a licensing proposal they had.
Supporting our Access & Conservation work enabling access to crags and countryside
Examples of this include:
- Path building from the BMC Mend Our Mountains and Mountaineering Scotland’s "Its Up to Us" campaigns
- Sphagnum moss replanting to protect the uplands
- Campaign work against planning developments which would negatively impact on the landscape such as the Shared Rural Network campaign in Scotland
- Support CRoW and the Coastal Access Bill and upholding the right of responsible access through the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 and SOAC.
- The BMC's access work includes producing and managing the BMC Regional Access Database.
Promoting Mountain Safety
As a member of the Mountain Safety Group in Scotland, AMI can influence the approach to promoting mountain safety, participate in public campaigns and messaging. In addition to the annual #ThinkWinter campaign these have also included specific advice on the use of mobile phones to navigate and on microspikes vs crampons. AMI members also support the delivery of both Mountaineering Scotland and the BMC’s student safety training.
Broader lobbying and advocacy
Our lobbying work includes the Work at Height Directive. Though that directive came in, the HSE agreed to defer to our ways of working, as opposed to treating instructors like a rope access technician, which would have severely damaged the ability for AMI members to work at height.
Partnership projects
National councils promotion of courses/events e.g. SheClimbs, Student Seminars, Inclusive projects (ClimbOut). AMI members also support the development and delivery of ClimbScotland’s Ready to Rock programme as part of the climbing pathway.
Access to safeguarding courses, advice and training
Click through to see the next available safeguarding courses from the BMC.
Access to national huts
As a BMC and MS member you get exclusive access to our three huts: Glen Brittle Memorial Hut on the Isle of Skye, the Don Whillans Memorial Hut at the Roaches and the Alex MacIntyre Memorial Hut in the Scottish Highlands. If you’re a member of a mountaineering club you may also have access to even more huts around the country.
What are the benefits to AMI members paying for their membership through an annual membership?
British Mountaineering Council
- £15 million Combined Liability Insurance cover
- Access to BMC Travel Insurance
- £10,000 personal accident cover including £500 physio/osteo cover
- 15% discount in Cotswold Outdoor / Snow+Rock / Runners Need
- Summit magazine (AMI have a free technical section each edition)
- 30% off OS annual subscription maps
BMC membership is more than just personal benefits. The BMC champions access protects wild places, and ensures the voices of climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers in England and Wales are heard.
Click through for full list of BMC membership benefits
Mountaineering Scotland
- £20 million Combined Liability Insurance cover
- 40% discount on purchases from Osprey
- 15% discount in Cotswold Outdoor / Snow+Rock/ Craigdon Mountain Sports / Nevisport
- 10% discount in Run4IT / Tisos
- Scottish Mountaineer magazine: AMI have a free technical section in each edition
- Access to members e-zine distributed to over 16,000 members
Click through for full list of membership benefits
Mountaineering Ireland
- Discounts in outdoor shops and related retailers
- Members Insurance -public liability cover applies to all members, personal accident cover applies to ROI and NI residents only
- Access to training schemes, workshops and events
- Quarterly Irish Mountain Log publication
- Monthly Members email newsletter
- MI work on behalf of members to improve access and conservation and promote responsible participation in hillwalking and climbing
- Staff team to provide support, information and training
- Access to grants for training support
- Member’s library containing almost 3,000 books and magazines
- Online shop with member discounts
- Access to mountain huts in Europe
Click through for full list of membership benefits
How is your membership administered?
BMC
BMC members who are members of more than one BMC affiliated club can reclaim their multiple membership payments.
Club members claiming multiple membership refunds can ask for the refund to be paid to themselves or to the club. The refund can also be used to upgrade from Club Membership to full Individual Membership.
Just download the refund form, complete it and return it to the BMC:
DOWNLOAD: Multiple Club Membership Refund Form
Please note: if you have claimed back your multiple fees previously, there is no need to make a subsequent claim. We will check your data and provided all your clubs have paid your subscription to the BMC for the current year we will send you an automatic refund after 30 June every year.
For more information contact the BMC office on 0161 445 6111 or email office@thebmc.co.uk
Mountaineering Scotland
AMI are categorised as a “club” member and in Scotland the club is the member of Mountaineering Scotland and can cast votes at the AGM on behalf of its members. Membership is administered by the club who tell us who they want to register under that club name and they then pay Mountaineering Scotland for the number of members registered
AMI membership automatically makes AMI your primary club and your Mountaineering Scotland fees are collected on your behalf. You should inform any other club that you are a member of that this is the case to avoid paying duplicate fees.