BMC Associate Clubs

What are Associate Clubs?

BMC Registered Clubs are either Affiliate Clubs or Associate Clubs. This page explains Associate Clubs. They allow a structured group, squad, academy, or organisation to register with the BMC even if it doesn’t meet the criteria for an Affiliate Club. An Associate Club doesn’t need to call itself a ‘club’ - what matters is the activities it offers. Examples of Associate Clubs include:

• A climbing wall running a squad, women’s group, or after-school club

• A youth centre offering climbing or hill walking

• A school Duke of Edinburgh’s Award group

• A performance climbing squad run by a coaching company

• A hill walking group run by Scouts or similar organisations

What are the key requirements for all Associate Clubs:

• It must have one or more of the broad range of 'mountaineering' activities as a core part of what the club provides (e.g. indoor/outdoor climbing, bouldering, hill walking, scrambling, ice climbing, ski-mountaineering)

• Must be based in the UK (although clubs are welcome to run trips or meets across the world)

• Must operate for the benefit of members

• Must be run by a current BMC Associate Member

• Associate Clubs can make a profit aka commercial clubs

What are the benefits of BMC Associate Club membership?

• Access specialist support from BMC staff

• Every member of the club gets discounted BMC membership

• Access to bespoke training and support for club volunteers, leaders and managers

• Prove of BMC membership gives you eligibility for external grant support, such as from Sport England and Sport Wales.

How to register your club?

To register as an Associate Club, the parent organisation must first become a BMC Associate Member. The Associate Member will then apply to register an Associate Club. Associate Members can choose to register more than one Associate Club. In the application you will need to tell us about the club, how it is run, provide evidence on how it complies with the BMC’s safeguarding requirements, and identify the key people.

Have more questions?

Contact us via our contact form if you are unsure about the club registration process or want further details.