Climbing on a purpose-built structure

Includes: climbing wall, climbing tower, indoor climbing, climbing Indoors, Outdoors, Adventurous activities, Height

Age:
4+
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Scale a climbing wall

Girls can climb up using purpose-built holds, and feel the adrenaline rush of reaching the top of a climbing wall. They can start with simple climbs, then try more and more challenging routes.

Overview

height theme icon.pngClimbing up or across purpose-built walls or towers.

For more information, visit the Girlguiding climbing blog.

To take girls climbing, you will need to find a reputable local venue with a qualified instructor.

Please note - this page doesn't cover tree climbing. If you are wanting to take your girls tree climbing, please send details of the provider to [email protected] and we can advise. 

Climbing on a purpose built structure is an adventurous activity and should follow the adventurous activity policy and procedures.

Approved: 14 October 2022
Version: 2.1

Content owner: Adventure team

Planning checklist

If you're working with an external provider or external instructors to run this activity outside the unit meeting space, follow these extra steps. 

  • Arrange for a home contact. Leave any route or other relevant details with your home contact and complete a home contact agreement form. Let them know if you make any changes to your plans.
  • Tell your local commissioner.
  • Tell the activity provider about the ability and experience of the participants and any disabilities, access needs or health conditions that need to be considered when running the activity.
  • Choose a reputable and licensed activity provider (where applicable).
  • Check the qualified adults hold the correct qualification to be able to run the activity (see the information below).
  • Get copies of the instructor qualifications and public liability insurance of the activity provider before you book.
  • Ask for a copy of the providers' safety guidelines and risk assessment.
  • Make sure you have the correct ratio of participants (girls and volunteers) to qualified adults (those running the activity). This is different to the ratio of leaders to girls.
  • Check with the venue that they have the correct equipment and, if needed, specialist clothing that will meet the requirements for your group.
  • Source any specialist equipment or clothing needed to run the activity not provided by the venue, and make sure this is in good condition and fit for purpose.
  • Check that any equipment is suitably insured by the provider and agree what happens to the equipment if it gets damaged.

Some venues might ask for a disclaimer or waiver to be signed for each person taking part in the activity. This is something which parents/carers must sign on behalf of their child. You can do this along with the consent form. Parents and carers should be given sufficient information from the provider along with the waiver so they can make an informed decision to sign it or not. Leaders can only sign disclaimers and waivers for their own personal participation.

If you or another member of your leadership team is running the activity at an external venue/location, follow these extra steps:

  • Arrange for a home contact. Leave any route or other relevant details with your home contact and complete a home contact agreement form. Let them know about any changes to your plans.
  • Tell your commissioner.
  • Get a copy of the public liability insurance of the activity provider before you book.
  • Check you hold the relevant qualification (if one is needed) to run the activity and let your commissioner know you plan to run it yourself. If you aren't sure, speak to your local adviser to check.
  • Check with the venue that they have the correct equipment and, if needed, specialist clothing that will meet the needs of your group.
  • Get any specialist equipment or clothing needed to run the activity not provided by the venue, and make sure this is in good condition and fit for purpose.
  • Check that any equipment is suitably insured by the provider and agree what happens to the equipment if it gets damaged.
  • Ask for a copy of the venue's safety guidelines and risk assessment (if relevant).
  • Make sure you have the correct ratio of participants (girls, leaders and volunteers) to qualified adults (those running the activity if a qualification is needed). This is different to the ratio of leaders to girls.
  • Consider the ability and experience of the participants and any disabilities, access needs or health conditions and plan the session accordingly.

Some venues might ask for a disclaimer or waiver to be signed for each person taking part in the activity. This is something which parents/carers must sign on behalf of their child. You can do this along with the consent form. Parents and carers should be given sufficient information from the provider along with the waiver so they can make an informed decision to sign it or not. Leaders can only sign disclaimers and waivers for their own personal participation. 

The activity instructor must hold one of the following:

One of the following Mountain Training UK (MTUK) climbing qualifications

  • Climbing Wall Award (CWA)
  • Rock Climbing Instructor (RCI)
  • Climbing Wall Leader Award (CWLA)
  • Mountain Instructor Award (MIA)
  • Mountain Instructor Certificate (MIC)

or

  • Girlguiding Climbing and abseiling training scheme - Level 1 or 2.
  • Many centres and climbing walls have their instructors assessed by Mountaineering and Climbing Instructors (formerly known as MIA holders) or Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructors (formerly known as MIC holders) every year. This is accepted by Girlguiding. Ask the centre whether this is the case. The instructor must be directly assessed by the Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor or Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor and the certificate signed by that person, and this may not be subcontracted to the holder of another award (like a Rock Climbing Instructor or SPA holder, no matter how experienced); and it must be renewed annually.

In–house awards may be more specific than other awards; instructors may for example be qualified to run one specific activity only. Ask the provider for more information.

If you are unfamiliar with climbing qualifications, or if any alternative qualifications are held by instructors, please contact [email protected] to check whether these are suitable.

You can verify the quality of a provider by checking it has one of the following endorsements: AALAAdventuremark or LotC Quality Badge for Adventure .  AALA and LotC are not applicable in Northern Ireland, but Sport Northern Ireland confirm the implementation of Adventuremark as a suitable adventure activity accreditation scheme for activity providers in Northern Ireland. Otherwise, you can contact your local outdoor activities adviser to recommend an approved provider.

All equipment used must be of a suitable standard for climbing.

Indoor climbing differs to outdoor climbing and most climbing centres won’t provide you with helmets. Using helmets on indoor walls is generally not normal practice, but each provider will have different risks at their location and will assess appropriately.

Best practice is to follow advice from the climbing centre manager. We recommend adding this line to your Information and consent for event/activity forms:

“I understand that the management of [indoor climbing provider’s name] do not provide helmets for climbing
and that this is accepted practice indoors.”

If you are doing this activity with Rainbows, they must be belayed by either a qualified instructor or a member of the adult leadership team who has been briefed on how to do this. Leaders should include this as a consideration in their risk assessment that members of the leadership team could be occupied belaying Rainbows and not able to help with other parts of the activity/help with other issues on the ground. 

The ratios below are given as a maximum and ratios must be considered as part of the risk assessment, this may lessen due to any medical conditions, physical ability or other factors.

Leadership team ratio

As this activity will take place outside of your usual meeting place the leadership team adult to child ratio is mandatory.

  • Rainbows: 1:5 (minimum of two adults)
  • Brownies: 1:8
  • Guides: 1:12
  • Rangers: 1 Girlguiding leader

Qualified adult/participant ratio

The activity leader (qualified adult) should determine what size of group is safe. There must be enough qualified adults to ensure the safety of all participants. This will be determined by any limitations placed on their qualification/permit/or the rules of their operating organisation as well as the risk assessment taking into consideration the location, weather and experience of both the qualified adult and other participants. This risk assessment should be assessed by the leader and any concerns raised to the qualified adult.

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