Governance
The British Mountaineering Council is the national representative body that champions the interests of climbers, hill walkers, mountaineers and ski mountaineers in England and Wales. We are also recognised by government as the national governing body for competition climbing. Read on to find out more about who we are, what we do, and how we are run.
Latest organisational updates
Governance
No action is needed. We're making a small administrative change to how your membership Direct Debit payments are processed. The article below aims to reassure you that this change won’t affect your membership.
Governance
As part of our ongoing commitment in creating new opportunities for members to keep up to date with BMC news and activities we are running a Clubs Open Forum.
Governance
The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) has appointed three new Patrons to help champion its Route to Adventure strategy and inspire more people to enjoy climbing, hill walking and mountaineering.
Governance
The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) can today announce the appointment of Lisa Barge as Chair of its Board of Directors. Lisa will take up the role from 9 March 2026.
Who we are
BMC Strategy 2025-2030: Our route to adventure
The strategy sets out how we will work to widen access to climbing, hill walking and mountaineering at a time when the mental and physical health benefits of the outdoors have never been clearer.
Our Vision
Inspiring and supporting routes to adventure. For all.
Our Purpose
From walls to wild places. For every climber, hill walker and mountaineer.
To do this, we are:
- Campaigning for access and environment
- Opening activities for all
- Developing skills for adventure
- Building clubs and communities
- Inspiring performance
- Growing our reach
Our Values
CARE: for our own actions, for each other, and for the places where we adventure.
Community: strength in collaboration, belonging and shared purpose.
Adventure: inspiration through curiosity, courage and challenge.
Respect: inclusivity in how we listen, understand and behave.
Environment: action that protects places for today and tomorrow.
How the BMC is run
The BMC is managed by a combination of the Board of Directors, Members' Council, the Finance, Risk & Audit Committee and senior staff. The Board of Directors has overall responsibility for the strategic direction and operational management. Members' Council is made up of representatives from the BMC Areas, Specialist Committees and members of the Board of Directors, provides an intermediary forum between the Board and the members, and represents the interests of the members to the Board. The Finance, Risk & Audit Committee supports the CEO and CFO and advises the Board on financial matters. The CEO is responsible for the day-to-day management of the BMC office.
BMC Board of Directors
The Board is the ultimate decision-making body of the BMC, and is responsible for overall operation of the organisation, as well as setting and implementing organisational strategy in consultation with Members' Council. The Board meets sufficiently regularly to ensure they discharge their duties effectively. The Board is supported by a number of standard and specialist committees. Information on the standard committees is set out below.
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BMC Members' Council
The Council is comprised of representatives from the BMC Areas, BMC Specialist Committees, organisations which work closely with the BMC and members of the Board. It acts as a representative body of the members, consulting with and constructively challenging the Board, and holding the Board to account on behalf of the members. The Council meets at least four times a year.
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BMC Local Areas
The BMC divides England and Wales into ten geographical areas: Cymru North Wales, Cymru South Wales, Lakes, London & SE, Midlands, North East, North West, Peak, South West, Yorkshire. BMC Areas provide a focus for local activities and are instrumental in driving national policy. Each BMC Area holds five meetings a year, and each precedes a meeting of the Council, to enable members to make their views known and be communicated to the Council.
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BMC Committees
The BMC relies on a well-established structure of voluntary committees, supported by staff, to develop and oversee much of the organisation’s technical work for members. We classify our Board committees into two categories: 'standard' and 'specialist'. The work of the Specialist Committees covers: Access & Conservation, Safeguarding, Clubs, Equity, Hill Walking, Huts, International Mountaineering, Land Management, Technical Equipment, Training, Youth & Walls.
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Articles of Association (These set out the purpose of the BMC and how the organisation is run)
Code of conduct for Board members
Conflict of Interest Policy for Board members
Complaints policy and procedure
Data protection and privacy policy
Finance, Risk and Audit Committee Terms of Reference
Governance Group Terms of Reference
Members Combined Liability policy
Nomination Committee Terms of Reference
Specialist Committee Regulations and Guidance Notes
The BMC’s strategic plan sets out the organisation’s key aims, and how we will achieve them.
Sport England has adopted a 10-year strategy, Uniting the Movement, which includes a focus on the broader systems that can create opportunities for all people to take part in sport and physical activity, and tackle the inequalities that affect participation. As part of this strategy, Sport England wishes to establish a portfolio of system partners that it will fund and work with to develop those opportunities using a bottom-up, systemic approach.
BMC Annual Reports and Annual Accounts
Read our BMC annual reports and annual accounts.
Annual General Meetings (AGM)
The BMC holds an AGM, primarily for the purpose of presenting and adopting annual reports and accounts, appointing auditors and electing members of the Board of Directors.