Deaf Climbing UK have teamed up with Awesome Walls Sheffield to celebrate their official launch.

Deaf Climbing UK (DCUK) is a deaf-led organisation dedicated to increasing deaf access and participation in rock climbing. The aim is simple: to provide social, developmental, and competitive opportunities at climbing centres across the country and to build a community of deaf climbers in the UK.

Co-founder Suzi Rees commented on the need for the organisation.

“Through my work, I’ve met so many professionals who are eager to support deaf people in their climbing journeys but don’t know how. The aim of Deaf Climbing UK is to connect those instructors to training and real experience so we can support their professional development and ensure they have the right skills to provide inclusive services.”

The day will start at 12pm and will be packed full of activities from beginner sessions right through to professional coaching. The DCUK team will also be on hand to share their experiences and talk about what the organisation has planned.

As with any deaf event, communication support is vital. The event is being supported by Deaf Hub and interpreters will be available through the day to support communication between climbers and instructors – it will be a great experience for instructors who haven’t worked with deaf people before and you might even learn a little sign language too!

The BMC’s new Equity and Partnerships Officer commented:

“We’re really excited about the launch of Deaf Climbing UK.  A lot of work has been done to understand the barriers that people with a hearing impairment face in terms of participating in climbing. Deaf Climbing UK is a fantastic organisation which will no doubt be hugely successful in breaking down these barriers, developing a community of deaf climbers and creating a truly inclusive climbing environment ”

With Deaf Awareness month fast approaching, the DCUK launch event will serve as a great opportunity for climbing centres and professionals to learn more about how to support deaf climbers and to get involved in future opportunities.

For instructors interested in getting involved or wanting to find out more about training opportunities, the team can be contacted at enquiries@deafclimbing.co.uk

Join us at Awesome Walls in Sheffield on Sunday 3^rd April for a day of learning, loving, and living climbing!

For tickets and booking information, please visit our event page.

We want to say a big thanks to every BMC member who continues to support us through the Coronavirus crisis.

From weekly Facebook Lives and GB Climbing home training videos, to our access team working to re-open the crags and fight for your mountain access, we couldn’t do it without you.

Did you know that we've launched a U27 membership offer for just £1.50 / month? And with full membership from £2.50 / month, it's never been easier to join and support our work: 

https://www.thebmc.co.uk/join-the-bmc-for-1-month-U27-membership

« Back