Meet your 2024 BMC Volunteer Award winners
The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) are delighted to announce the recipients of the 2024 BMC Volunteer Awards.
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
The Rehan Siddiqui Award Winner: Jay Jackson
Jay has been a driving force behind the development of Paraclimbing, dedicating countless hours as a volunteer coach to promote equal access to performance opportunities. He has travelled extensively, both across the country and internationally, offering his coaching free of charge to support Paraclimbers. His commitment has not only helped athletes but has also inspired other volunteers to get involved in the sport.
Through his tireless efforts, Jay has transformed how Paraclimbers view themselves and how they are perceived by others. They are now recognised as high-performance athletes, treated with the respect and consideration they deserve. His exceptional knowledge and inspirational coaching have played a pivotal role in the sport's growth, and Paraclimbers are deeply grateful for his dedication and his passion for creating equality in access to climbing opportunities.
The Rehan Siddiqui Award Winner: Rose Gare-Simmons
Rose has led numerous BMC walks, increasing access to hill walking and encouraging greater female participation. Her leadership has helped break down barriers, with many of the walks seeing more women attendees than men.
Using her social media influence, Rose has promoted a diverse and inclusive image of the BMC to a wider audience. She has represented the organisation at events, on podcasts, and in videos, contributing to a more positive and diverse external image. As a Mountain Leader (in a field where fewer than 30% are women), she has inspired others to pursue outdoor leadership roles.
Rose has combined her expertise as a Mountain Leader and mental health nurse to lead walks for those facing mental health challenges through BMC partner Blackdog Outdoors. She also raised around £1,000 for the Mend Our Mountains campaign through her social hikes. As a valuable member of the BMC's Members’ Council and Hill Walking Group, Rose brings a younger, female perspective to traditionally male-dominated discussions.
The Lord Greaves Award Winner: Steve Charles
Steve Charles developed and led a variety of conservation volunteering opportunities in the uplands, with minimal support from BMC staff. His initiatives included sphagnum planting for BMC’s The Climate project, removing invasive species, clearing drainage, and repairing footpaths as part of the Mend Our Mountains campaign.
He spearheaded the successful "Mend Our Mountains Get Stuck In!" programme, which focused on restoring and protecting upland areas. Steve engaged a diverse group of volunteers, including non-members, helping to grow the BMC community. His efforts also strengthened relationships with key partners like the National Trust and Moors for the Future.
Steve's contributions have enhanced the BMC's reputation and expanded its reach into new areas. He continues to recruit volunteers and extend the initiative across more regions, making a lasting impact on the community and aligning with the BMC’s core mission.
How were they chosen?
This is a culmination of public nominations, council members, and patrons etc voting. Our panel members this year were:
- Sean Milner (Chair) – Deputy President
- Lynn Robinson, Former President
- Mick Fowler, BMC Patron
- Robert Dufton, Former Recipient
- Mohammed Dhalech, Chair of EDI Committee
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
Related Content
Rock Climbing Articles
Carn Gowla is open for climbing again thanks to the delicate negotiation skills of Iain Peters, BMC Access Rep for the Atlantic Coast. Here he shares his favourite six climbs and shares more about how he was able to overturn the recent climbing ban.
Access News
The Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) Big Clean Up event marks an unprecedented effort to begin to rid the mountain of decades-old litter, including a misplaced Santa hat! Over two days, Friday 20th and Saturday 21st September, dedicated volunteers and specialists undertook a challenging mission to clean one of Wales’ most iconic natural landmarks.
Mend Our Mountains Articles
The BMC volunteers have been super busy this summer, with the latest Get Stuck In project seeing 12 of them create a 50m length of stepping stone path to make a more sustainable way through the bog below Tryfan, Eryri (Snowdonia), North Wales.
Hill Walking News
This August, 14 BMC volunteers spent two days on The Band in Langdale, Lake District, making repairs to a 100m stretch of footpath in the latest Get Stuck In event, funded by the Mend Our Mountains campaign from the BMC's Access & Conservation Trust.
Mend Our Mountains Articles
BMC member Roy Hammond from Congleton, Cheshire, has now volunteered seven times for Get Stuck In events, funded by the Mend Our Mountains 2024 campaign from the BMC's Access & Conservation Trust (ACT). This summer he stepped it up a notch and led the Get Stuck In Eryri event this June, coordinating a dozen volunteers who stayed in the Lincoln Mountaineering Hut in Deiniolen, North Wales. The group worked for 6 hours during both days, including a hike up to 750m on Glyder Fach on day one. We asked Roy what he gets out of volunteering on the Get Stuck In events for the BMC, and what it's like to start organising them himself.
News
The sphagnum season is upon us again! Now that the ground-nesting birds have stopped ground-nesting, it’s time for BMC volunteers to start planting this incredible, carbon-sequestering moss at strategic locations across the Peak District moorland. Can you help us?
News
This weekend the BMC joined Avon Access Rep Ben Darby and his team of volunteers near Bristol to install 28 new belay stakes on Main Wall so that climbers no longer need to rely on the wobbly old iron fence as an anchor point. Vegetation was also cleared and a thorough litter pick was carried out.
Climate Articles
The latest Get Stuck In party of a dozen BMC volunteers have been working with the National Trust to stop peat erosion, reduce carbon emissions and promote tree growth in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park this June.
Volunteering
Nick sits on the BMC Technical Committee and UIAA Safety Commission. He is one of the incredible volunteers helping to ensure that the safety and performance standards of equipment are up to scratch!
Volunteering
Steve is a Pembrokeshire area volunteer who has been a Local Access Rep for over 15 years. Fresh from liaising with the military for 2025 briefing dates at Range West, Castlemartin, Pembrokeshire, we caught up with him to find our more about his role.
Volunteering
Emily sits on the gender subgroup of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She is a talented researcher and also runs Beta Magazine, a climbing and outdoors community magazine focused on the female experience but inclusive of all.
Volunteering
Mike is a Student Rep on the Clubs Committee and more recently has been working with the team as part of the Organisational Development Group.
Volunteering
Graeme has been volunteering at the BMC for over 10 years, he volunteers as part of the Equity Steering Group and has worked hard to help the BMC achieve the Intermediate Equality Standard.
Access & Conservation
This April saw the BMC’s first volunteer day in Pwllheli, North Wales, partnering with the Seagrass Ocean Rescue project and the North Wales Wildlife Trust as part of the BMC’s The Climate Project. Two more dates are planned for May and August, read on for dates and how to get involved.
Volunteering News
This week is Volunteering Week 3 - 9 June so why not get involved with one of the many BMC volunteering opportunities? There are loads to choose from, including helping out at climbing competitions, leading hill walks at events and litter picking nationwide, planting seagrass in Wales, repairing footpaths in the Lake District and restoring peat bogs in the Peak District.
Access Articles
BMC volunteers from the Get Stuck In programme joined Fix the Fells last month in Wasdale on Lingmell Breast, one of the main routes up to Scafell Pike. They spent the day helping to maintain part of this hugely popular footpath up to England’s highest mountain.
Access News
This April, local climbers have cleared overgrowing vegetation on the main crag at Wildcat, a popular collection of buttresses near Matlock Bath with a good selection of classic long, mid-grade routes.
Climate Articles
The sphagnum-planting season has come to an end to allow the ground-nesting birds to, well, ground nest! Thank you to all the volunteers that have helped the BMC to plant over 16,000 plugs of this super soggy, carbon-locking moss this winter, helping to restore the Peak District peat bog.
Volunteering News
We are delighted to announce the recipients of the 2023 BMC Volunteer Awards.
Volunteering News
Congratulations to our recipients of the 2022 BMC Volunteer Awards.
Volunteering News
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2021 BMC Volunteer Awards.
Volunteering News
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2020 BMC Volunteer Awards.
Volunteering News
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2019 BMC Volunteer Awards.
Indoor Climbing Articles
This page contains all the documentation that BMC Youth Climbing Series Coordinators (YCSCs) need for the BMC Youth Climbing Series