Governance
The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) is the National Governing Body for Sport Climbing and the member-led representative organisation for climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers in England and Wales. Our vision is clear: inspiring and supporting routes to adventure for all – from walls to wild places, for every climber, hill walker and mountaineer.
We exist to inspire and enable people to enjoy adventure responsibly, championing access to nature as a public good and working in partnership with communities to support healthier, more active lives. From indoor climbing walls to the UK’s most iconic mountain landscapes, the BMC supports participation at every level and in every environment.
As the national body for sport climbing, the BMC provides strategic leadership for the sport, developing inclusive pathways from grassroots participation to elite performance. Through targeted investment, expert support and collaboration with partners, we nurture the next generation of British climbing talent and support success on the world, Olympic and Paralympic stage.
Alongside our sporting role, the BMC is a leading voice for access, conservation and environmental stewardship. Through our charity trusts – the Access & Conservation Trust and the Land & Property Trust – we protect climbing and walking landscapes for current and future generations, ensuring the freedom to explore and adventure remains central to our mission.
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.
Read the strategy to learn more about our six core pillars of activity and our organsational values.
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
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.
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. Learn more here.
Who we are
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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Specialist Committees
The work of the Specialist Committees covers: Access & Conservation, Safeguarding, Clubs, Equity, Hill Walking, Huts, International Mountaineering, Land Management, Technical Equipment, Training, Youth & Walls.
Standard Committees
The work of the Standard Committees covers: performance, health & safety, international strategy, competitions, safeguarding, renumeration, finance and the Pwygllor Cymru.