The BMC is, and indeed climbing, hill walking and mountaineering generally have always been, open and welcoming to people of all ages, abilities, backgrounds, cultures, races, religions and orientations. To this end the BMC has an Equal Opportunities policy and an Equity Steering Group to reinforce this position.

The BMC Equity Steering Group is composed of members with an interest in this area of the BMC's work.

The group oversees the reviewing of the BMC's Equal Opportunities Policy and the processes required to meet The Equality Standards: A Framework for Sport.

A large part of their work involves the Group looking at barriers that underrepresented communities face when they want to do any of the activities the BMC covers and then suggesting strategies for removing those barriers.

There are several areas that the Group looks at very closely. These are people with disabilites, people from black and minority ethnic groups, and also women and girls. That's because these groups are generally underrepresented within climbing, hill walking and / or mountaineering.

In essence, the work of the Equity Steering Group pervades all that the BMC does. 

For example, the BMC publication Young People: Climbing, Hill Walking, Mountaineering, A Parent's Guide starts with a statement that everyone can enjoy the activities described in the booklet and that disabilities should not be seen as barriers to participation - see here.

See the booklet Climbing For All: Disability Awareness in Rock Climbing

And also Walking For All: Disability Awareness in Walking

For more information contact Carey Davies at the BMC, email: carey@thebmc.co.uk  

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