Meet your 2022 BMC Volunteer Award winners

The awards recognise the extraordinary individuals whose voluntary contributions elevate hill walking, climbing, and mountaineering across England and Wales. This year, we are proud to present three exceptional individuals with awards in two categories: the Rehan Siddiqui Award for promoting equality and diversity, and the Lord Greaves Award for contributions to access and conservation.

What are the BMC Volunteer awards?

The BMC Awards acknowledge the hard work and commitment that goes into making our community great. Whether it’s a dedicated volunteer, an innovative club lead, an exceptional athlete, or a ground-breaking initiative, we aim to shine a spotlight on those who elevate hill walking, climbing and mountaineering in the UK. This year we have selected three individuals for two categories:

THE REHAN SIDDIQUI AWARD(S)

For Exceptional Voluntary Contribution towards promoting Equality and Diversity in the BMC, recognising those who have made a significant voluntary contribution to the BMC’s commitment to increasing opportunities for under-represented groups to participate in climbing, hill walking or mountaineering and the work of the BMC.

THE LORD GREAVES AWARD

Award for Voluntary Contribution to BMC Access and Conservation work, to recognise volunteers who work tirelessly to promote access to and protection for the countryside we all love.

GEORGE BAND AWARD

The George Band Award for Exceptional Voluntary Contribution to Mountaineering recognises people who have played a significant role in the BMC’s work over an extended period of time.

Barbara has been actively involved with the BMC for at least 35 years, initially chairing specialist working groups looking at climbing restrictions for nesting birds. She oversaw the production of the BMC's Green Guide, the White Guide to Winter Climbing and advised on the Winter Conditions Monitoring project.

Ken has been an active member of the BMC Access Management Group for the last 25 years and has been one of the main go-to experts for providing technical input. He has been an advocate for protecting our upland landscapes for many years and is a consistent voice of reason and knowledge on many issues that cross the desk of the BMC Access team, from advice for walking through fields of cows, wild camping and the potential to extend the right to roam.

Steve Quinton received the BMC Lord Greaves Volunteer Award last year for voluntary contribution to BMC Access and Conservation work.

Steve has been the Access Rep for Pembrokeshire for 15 years and has been instrumental in organising the Range West briefings. He almost single-handedly replaced the belay stakes along the entire Castlemartin Range, attended and advised on 100s of site visits to check for nesting birds and seals and is one of the organisers of the BMC Pembroke Climbing Festival. Thank you Steve for all your tireless work.

Mick has been a committed and steadfast volunteer for the BMC Yorkshire Area for at least the last 15 years representing climbers as the Access Rep for Yorkshire Gritstone. Getting stuck into a number of access negotiations over the years, his incredible local knowledge, coupled with his friendly attitude (that can win over even the frostiest landowner) has frequently been called upon by BMC Staff, the local area and individual climbers alike.

Mohammed has put a great deal of energy into the Equity Steering Group over the years, as head of the ethnic diversity sub-group, he prompted the BMC to work towards the Intermediate Equality Standard, which the BMC received in April 2020 and Mohammed has been a driving force for the Equity Symposiums in recent years.

Our dedicated and passionate network of hundreds of volunteers are the lifeblood of the BMC.

We have a vast range of volunteers:

• Local levels
  • Focussed on local activities and action, areas meetings etc
• BMC committees
  • With relevant skills, experience or expertise, supporting the work of the BMC by contributing to strategic direction and offering their advice and knowledge on certain matters – access groups, club committees, technical committees etc
• Members council
  • Those who act as a representative body of the members, consulting with and constructively challenging the board of directors.
• Board members