Local Area Chair
Purpose of this role
To chair the area committee meetings. To ensure that the committee properly reflects the area members views. To act as a point of contact for members in the local area and allow members to raise concerns/issues.
Key tasks and responsibilities of the role
- Chair Area Meetings (4-5 a year)
- Create Agenda with the area secretary
- Help fill area vacancies
- Liaise with other area reps
- Engage with BMC over current issues
- Engage the local area memberships and encourage involvement
- You may wish to organise a speaker for your local area meetings
More information about the role
- Understanding of managing/chairing meetings
- Availability in person and online and willingness to be contacted
- Good communication skills, diplomacy and impartiality
- Familiarity with local area
- Patience and the ability to allow a voice to all members
- Welcoming and respectful to existing and new area members
At home and in person at local area meetings.
No minimum time commitment varies from 1 – 25 hours a month (more time commitment when nearing the area meetings). This role could be shared with others.
- BMC Events coordinator support for area meetings and area AGM
- Expenses –travel expenses for any meetings relating to the role as area chair
- Access to relevant training if requested
- Advice from the relevant BMC staff member on complex or difficult issues
- Feel good about giving something back to the climbing and hill walking community
- Meeting people
- Giving a voice to the members in your local area
If you are interested in finding out more about this role or would like to get involved, please contact the BMC volunteer development coordinator or your local area representatives. Michelle Hordern Michelle.hordern@thebmc.co.uk 07554998906
MEET THE NORTH WEST AREA CHAIR: AGUS 'AJ' GUARDIOLA
Q: What does the role of an Area Chair involve?
AJ: My main role is to keep the local area meetings running smoothly. I chair these meetings and act as a point of contact for local members and the BMC office. If anyone has an issue they’d like raised or a question between meetings, I’m here to help. During meetings, I make sure we stay on agenda and that everyone’s voice is heard.
One project I’m particularly proud of is creating a guidance document for the Northwest Crags and Quarries, which outlines how fixed gear - whether existing or new - should be managed. It’s really helped us develop a process for discussing changes and reaching consensus before any action is taken.
Q: How much time does it take to be an Area Chair?
AJ: On average, I spend about 1-2 hours a week, though it varies. Around meeting times, there’s a bit more work - like arranging the venue, preparing slides, and ensuring minutes are posted. But it’s a great way to stay connected with the community and keep an ear to the ground.
Q: Do you need prior experience to be an Area Chair?
AJ: Not at all. I had no prior experience before stepping in. I had a good handover from my predecessor and the previous secretary, and there’s support from the BMC office and other volunteers if you need it.
Q: What other BMC roles are you involved in?
AJ: Besides being Area Chair, I help organise planning festivals, serve on the BMC’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and am the Nationally Elected Councillor for mountaineering. There’s a lot of variety in volunteering with the BMC, so if you have an idea you’d like to pursue, the BMC is open to it.
Q: Any advice for those interested in volunteering with the BMC?
AJ: Volunteering with the BMC is incredibly rewarding - it keeps you involved in this wonderful outdoor community. Even if you don’t have the time or skills for a volunteer role, attending local area meetings is a fantastic way to engage. We’d love to see more diverse voices there to help shape our community’s future.
Q: How did you first get involved with the BMC?
AJ: I discovered the BMC as a student at the University of Manchester. Through the BMC Student Safety Seminar and Winter Safety lectures, I saw the positive impact the BMC has on access and conservation. When the previous Area Chair stepped down in 2021, I thought it’d be a great opportunity to give back to the organisation and stay involved with local outdoor issues.
Q: What are local area meetings like?
AJ: Local area meetings are a forum for discussing issues around access, conservation, hill walking, clubs, and youth engagement. They’re also a chance for members to raise issues that feed into the Members Council, creating a bridge between local communities and the BMC. We hold about four meetings a year, and topics range widely - from access at specific crags to conservation events.