Have Your Say: 2025 to 2030 BMC Strategy Consultation

The 2025-30 strategy of the BMC is taking shape, and our member and community voice is playing a crucial role in guiding it. Our strategy review has sparked insightful discussions on access, sustainability, inclusivity, and how we can better support climbers, hill walkers, and mountaineers. With over 850 survey responses and input from more than 20 partner organisations, we’ve gathered a wealth of ideas on what’s working well, what needs improvement, and where we should focus our efforts.

We’ll be exploring these key themes in our upcoming Members’ Open Forum on Wednesday 5 March, as well as in the next round of Area Meetings. We’ll also engage further with members to refine a final draft, which will be presented at the AGM in September. This is your opportunity to help shape the BMC’s future - we strongly encourage you to get involved and share your views.

Vision & Values

The overwhelming feedback suggests that the BMC should prioritise improving access, participation, inclusion, and diversity while championing environmental protection, sustainability, and responsibility. Members have called for clearer communication of our vision and for the organisation to actively embody these values. There has also been a suggestion to reassess terms like adventure and aspiration to ensure they resonate with a broader audience.

Proposed five-year achievements

Access - campaigning for more access to crags, hills and outdoor spaces including an extension to the Right to Roam similar to Scotland and sustainable wild camping.

Membership – increase numbers and engage diverse groups, especially underrepresented demographics, grow our supportive community of climbers and hill walkers.

Finance & governance – more stable, accountable and transparent management and more efficient, streamlined operations throughout the organisation.

Education & skills – develop clear pathways from indoor to outdoor climbing, provide training opportunities, promote safety, foster environmental awareness.

Community – build a welcoming community for all outdoor enthusiasts that promotes diversity and inclusion, engaging families and youth

Competition – discuss the role of competition climbing within the BMC and its governance: whilst balancing the needs of competitive with recreational climbers.

Promote – encourage climbing, hill walking and mountaineering by organising events and activities to engage the community, promote the health and well-being benefits.

Collaborate – continue to partner with other national governing bodies and outdoor organisations to advocate for access and conservation and strengthen our voice.

Awareness – raise the awareness of the BMC’s role and activities amongst the general public, advocating for climbers and hill walkers at all governmental levels.

We appreciate your continued support and input as we shape the future of the BMC. For a full summary of the survey feedback, please click here.