MCofS Support for New Walls

The MCofS will actively encourage the development of new walls in Scotland in line with the agreed Strategy. This may include new build projects or upgrades to existing walls; they may be private ventures, charitable projects, local authority facilities including those within schools; the main criteria being a requirement for public access in an un-restricted manner in accordance with our policy to ensure facilities are built, designed and managed for the benefit of climbers (climbing activities, and climber expectations regarding freedoms to enjoy their sport are quite different to that of other indoor sports and are not always understood by non-climbing developers, and the MCofS aims to provide specific advice on the management of a climbing facility).

Requirements for MCofS Support for New Projects

If you are approaching the MCofS for support, the MCofS will need to have enough information about the project in order to make a decision as to whether it complies with the MCofS’s requirements strategically and functionally.

Projects that approach the Lottery or the Foundation for Sport and the Arts should be aware that these bodies will contact the MCofS for expert advice and in such circumstances it is helpful if the proposal has already had input from the MCofS to ensure time and effort is not wasted. Those projects approaching the Lottery via sportscotland should note that it is a requirement that they are affiliated to the MCofS for the life of the award and that this will be monitored by sportscotland as part of the conditions of the award.

The MCofS would require the following information before giving support:

Summary Brief of the Project:

An outline of the proposed site for the climbing wall; the scale of the project (what MCofS category does it fullfil): the overall wall dimensions and venue dimensions regarding circulation space; details of any ancillary facilities to be included; the total cost of the project and time-scales for completion.

A Development Plan:

A Development Plan containing details of every aspect of the project: including a draft design proposal for the wall including the style of climbing to be catered for - type of wall, the style of wall, the type of wall surface - what climbing wall system is being used, potential manufacturers (tendered and prefered); any market research undertaken or sourced to support the project, the proposed wall management systems and regulations (NB MCofS supports management systems that maintain freedoms for climbers as indicted in the Climbing Wall Manual).

We recommend that potential developers read the MCofS Climbing Wall Strategy documents and the Climbing Walls Manual in the first instance.

Financial Forecast:

A full breakdown of costings for a minimum of a 3 year period: usage figures judged against entry charges and costs.

Confidentiality

Applications remain confidential. However, as there may be multiple proposals and projects can take years to come to fruition, the MCofS may have to alert prospective projects to the possibility of competition.

MCofS Conditions of Support

We would require a supported project to commit to the following conditions:

MCofS Conditions of Support to climbing walls (pdf)