As the BMC is a community organisation, we have taken the decision to support the health of the outdoor and wider community by withdrawing from several events and reducing staff travel.

Current UK government advice does not specifically advise the closure of sporting events, however both Scotland and Ireland have now stopped events with over 500 people and WHO guidance states that the risk of infection appears to be high at small gatherings in indoor venues.

Therefore, we’ve decided to cancel our Emma Twyford The Big Tour this week, a joint decision with the tour sponsors Patagonia.

We will also not be taking an active part in this year’s Sheffield Adventure Film Festival. At the moment the festival has been adapted and is still going ahead as a series of cinema-only sessions.

Sheffield Adventure Film Festival have been in discussion with their venue partner The Showroom Workstation, who have indicated that unless official advice changes, the cinema will be open as normal over the weekend of the festival and therefore film screenings will be going ahead as planned.

Matt Heason from ShAFF explained:

"Over the weekend, the health and wellbeing of ShAFF staff, volunteers, and visitors is our first priority, and the consensus in the ShAFF team is that we will be cancelling all the festival’s non-film events. This means that while the Showroom remains open, ShAFF 2020 will be a film programme only. While many may make the decision not to go to the cinema, others will still want to attend. We envisage a much smaller than usual and very local audience, but want to support our venue, a local independent cinema for whom a total cancellation would be devastating. We would encourage anyone who is thinking of attending to make their own decision taking into consideration the NHS advice."

See full list of BMC event cancellations

The next round of the Youth Climbing Series on 21 March has been cancelled. We have contingency plans for postponing the Junior British Bouldering Championships and the Youth Climbing Series Grand Final if required. 

Our next national event is the Keswick Mountain Festival in May and then the British Bouldering Championships in July. As these are both outdoor events in the summer, we will make a decision on these as the situation develops.

The GB Climbing Team is currently not travelling internationally as the IFSC has decided to postpone the World Cup competitions in Wujiang and Chongqing, the European Championships in Moscow, the World Cup in Meiringen, the World Cup in Seoul, the Asian Championships and the circuit of IFSC Europe cups and IFSC Europe youth cups.

Staff travel is now reduced, and there are no external meetings in the BMC office in Manchester.

More FAQs about the BMC and Covid-19

🌳 Can I go climbing / hill walking in England? Here's what you can and can't do in the 3rd Lockdown (January 2021)

🌳 What's the situation for climbing and hill walking in Wales? Read our full January update

😷 When and will the walls reopen? In England and Wales they're now closed for the National Lockdown. Read our walls article

✈️ I have a travel insurance question! Here's the FAQs

🏡 Do you have any advice for clubs and huts? Check out our latest clubs, meets and huts update

🛒 Is the BMC shop open? Yes - it is and BMC members get 10% off!

We want to say thanks to every BMC member supporting us through the Coronavirus crisis.

From weekly Facebook Lives and GB Climbing home training videos, to our access team working to re-open the crags and fight for your mountain access, we're making through with your support.

If you liked what we are doing, then tell your friends about us: www.thebmc.co.uk/join

« Back