Apply for a BMC expedition grant

BMC Climate Emergency Declaration and Expeditions

The BMC recognises that there is a climate emergency that is already affecting large parts of the world, including upland and mountain areas that we love and which form the basis of our outdoor activities. As well as providing opportunities for recreation, adventure and quiet enjoyment, these mountain areas provide vital services such as flood management, carbon sinks, clean air and water, and wildlife habitats, and are home to millions of people across the world.

The BMC understands the need to respond urgently to the climate emergency across all sectors of society - to cut carbon and GHG emissions in order to help avoid the very worst effects of climate change and to prevent reaching significant tipping points, and to adapt to a low-carbon economy and prepare for a changing climate.

The BMC also recognises that some travel is necessary to carry out research and exploration but believe every effort should be taken to reduce the impact of expeditions so that this only happens when it has a carbon neutral impact. As such, the BMC will only support expeditions in remote environments, when those applying can demonstrate they are committed to minimising their environmental impact, have a plan to offset any carbon emissions, leave no trace behind, consider the waste management system of the local area and the end destination for any disposed waste, and recognise the need to respect (and where possible support) the economic, cultural, social, religious, environmental and other beliefs of the local populations.

BMC grant support for expeditions

The BMC has limited funds available to provide grants for international expeditions. These funds have been split into two separate funding streams.  The first is to support British people from under-represented groups going on mountaineering expeditions.  The second is to support British people going on innovative high- level mountaineering expeditions. Further information about this is outlined below.

Expedition leaders are expected to submit a thorough and complete application, which should clearly state all forms of anticipated income. Once an expedition has been successfully considered, a grant award and/or approval may be offered.

Proof of British citizenship will be the holding of a British passport.

Grant support will be given to those who have considered the environmental impact of the expedition, including carbon emissions and the cost of carbon offsetting or other approved sustainability initiatives. Please indicate if you would be happy for the BMC to understand the overall carbon footprint of the planned expedition to help others try to reduce their impact.

Expeditions must agree to supply the BMC with a summary report within 4 weeks of their return, and a final report in due course - examples of final reports are here. They must agree to waive their copyright in these reports, which may be included in Summit Magazine, the BMC website and other locations. They should also contribute to BMC lecturer events if required to do so. 

1. Support for people from under-represented groups

Grant support from this fund will be focused solely on younger climbers/mountaineers and people from under-represented groups, Therefore, funding from this stream will be given to expeditions by students and younger BMC members under 35, women, people from diverse ethnic communities, trans & non-binary people, people from LGBTQ+ community, people with a disability, people with mental health conditions.

Expeditions consisting of younger members or members from under-represented group for whom the trip would represent a significant personal development will also be considered for funding, irrespective of climbing standard.

Any amount awarded to an expedition will be reduced pro-rata for each non-BMC-member in the expedition team: e.g. a four-person team awarded £800 will have £200 deducted for each non-BMC-member in the party.  Additionally, a similar pro-rata reduction will be made for each member of the trip who has received a BMC grant in the last two years.

2. Support for innovative high-level mountaineering

Grant support from this fund will be for expeditions that have significant, cutting edge and innovative ascents as their main objectives.  Priority will be given to those who have not previously received a grant.

Teams applying for this funding stream must meet the following criteria:

1. Grants will be available only to those British climbers on the expedition who have been BMC members for a minimum of two years (either as a BMC Individual Member or as a member of a BMC affiliated club)

2. Grant support will be prioritized towards those for whom the grant would make a significant difference to the viability of their trip.

3. The people on the team will not have received a BMC expedition grant in the last two years unless the proposed objective is considered exceptional in the sense that it is internationally coveted, an outstanding aesthetic line and / or is technically at the current cutting edge of mountaineering.

4. The track record of expedition members must show real commitment to climbing/mountaineering, and this should be reflected in their individual climbing record.

Application Process

Download: BMC Grant Application Form

The completed BMC application form and relevant additional material should be returned to the BMC International Committee Secretary, Nick Colton (nick@thebmc.co.uk). Closing dates are the 1st November (for expeditions taking place before March the following year) or 1st March (for expeditions planned for the rest of that year).

1. Grants are not available for commercial expeditions and should not be used in situations involving fee-paying clients.

2. In countries where peak permits are required, grants will not be released until the expedition receives such permission.

3. Any changes to the original application should be brought to our attention as soon as possible and if, for whatever reason, the expedition does not take place, the grant must be returned in full.

4. Expedition reports must include accounts, and if there is a surplus of income over expenditure, the surplus must be returned, in full or in part as determined by the BMC.

5. Expeditions or individuals who fail to observe the conditions attached to a grant may find themselves deemed ineligible for further support.

6. The BMC also administers the Julie Tullis Memorial Award, a small grant to assist deserving British female mountaineers or any disabled British climbers or mountaineers, both male and female, to achieve their climbing or mountaineering ambitions. Applications for the Julie Tullis Memorial Award can be made via the BMC Expedition Grant form.

7. The Mount Everest Foundation (MEF) also gives grants to expeditions. Their criteria are somewhat different from the BMC criteria, but many expeditions apply for both. However, their applications require a separate MEF form, and have rather earlier deadlines (30th September and 31st January). MEF application forms are available from MEF website or email: secretary@mef.org.uk

8. Expeditions that do not meet the criteria for a BMC grant (sections 1 to 5 above), may still apply for “BMC approved status”. This can be done using the BMC grant form, or, for those who are also applying for an MEF grant and can meet their earlier deadlines, on the MEF grant form by ticking the appropriate box on that form.

View a list of other available grants