News4Clubs
Bulletin Number 30                                          27th January 2012

An Appeal from Brian Linington, President, The Mountaineering Council of Scotland

You will be aware that the Mountaineering Council of Scotland and other bodies concerned with protecting the upland landscape have been unsuccessful in halting the march of wind farms across Scotland's mountainous areas.

In 2011 a Working Group updated the MCofS Landscape and Access Strategy in order to try a different, more focused approach.

The MCofS has limited resources, which means that we can only respond to those proposals likely to have the most significant impact on the wilderness and upland landscapes which we all cherish. Even so, to be effective we cannot do this on our own. We need your help.

I am appealing to you as clubs, members of clubs and individual members to stand up and be counted.

Please take a look at this Appeal for Action from Ron Payne, the MCofS Director of Landscape and Access, who is requesting your assistance to object to the particularly intrusive Sallachy Wind Farm proposal in the North West Highlands. Objections must be made by no later than 15th February 2012. Time is of the essence.

Scottish Government Consultation on developing a safety system for Adventure Activities in Scotland – deadline for responses 30th March 2012

The UK Government has decided to abolish the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA), the organisation responsible for licensing a number of adventure activities delivered to young people across the UK. The current statutory inspection and licensing regime will be replaced in England with a voluntary system.

Scottish Ministers have decided to undertake a consultation on a replacement for AALA in Scotland that ‘will need to meet the needs of Scottish providers and users whilst being robust but also proportionate’. The scope of the Scottish consultation is very broad, includes all age groups and those activities undertaken by voluntary clubs and associations, rather than simply those undertaken by under-18s and provided by licensed organisations and individuals.

While the MCofS will respond in its own right to the consultation with the aim of ensuring that our members’ current freedom to enjoy mountaineering activities is maintained, WE URGE ALL CLUBS TO RESPOND TO THE CONSULTATION AS THERE IS A RISK THAT REGULATION COULD BE APPLIED TO MOUNTAINEERING ACTIVITIES WHICH ARE CURRENTLY UNREGULATED.

The consultation may be completed online. Details including how to respond may be found on the Scottish Government website. The MCofS will publish its own response on the MCofS website in February and provide you with details in the February issue of News4Clubs.

As part of the Consultation the Scottish Government will hold 4 regional events to provide an opportunity to consider the consultation further. Dates and venues events are:

Tuesday 7th February – Atlantic Quay, Glasgow (19:00 - 21:00)

Thursday 16th February – Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries (19:00 - 21:00)

Thursday 1st March – Lochaber High School, Fort William (19:00 - 21:00)

Thursday 15th March – Glenmore Lodge, Aviemore (19:00 - 21:00)

Should you wish to attend any of the events you should send your name, that of your club or organisation and contact details to adventureactivities@scotland.gsi.gov.uk.

Scottish Mountaineering Trust Grants

The Board and staff of the MCofS wish to thank the SMT Trustees for their continued support for our work. The Trustees recently approved a grant of £12,600 per annum for the years 2012-14 for access and conservation work. The Trust also supported the Visually Impaired Course with a grant of £2,310. We understand that the Trust is keen to hear from clubs and other organisations which may have projects that meet their funding criteria. Find out more.

NEW! sportscotland Expert Resource ... legal support for clubs

sportscotland the national agency for sport, has appointed Harper Macleod LLP to provide legal advice and support to Scottish Governing Bodies of Sport as part of their ‘Expert Resource Framework’. The service is available to MCofS and its member clubs and includes an initial one-hour free consultation period.

Clubs seeking legal advice relating to Governance and Corporate Law; Contract Law; Property Law; Employment Law; and Intellectual Property Law should contact the MCofS Chief Officer in the first instance with an outline brief concerning their requirements. Subject to agreement with sportscotland to proceed to consultation, clubs will then be able to make direct contact with a representative of Harper Macleod LLP to discuss their requirements.

Harper Macleod issued a press release concerning their appointment and further information is available on the MCofS website.

Insurance Updates

1) Employers’ Liability Insurance (ELI)

We are pleased to advise you that from January 2012 Employers’ Liability cover is available to clubs free of charge as a benefit of membership of the MCofS. The limit of indemnity provided is £10m.

ELI cover will protect clubs in respect of their liability to people working on their behalf, either as direct employees or volunteers. In order to arrange cover, please download and complete an application form from the Civil & Employers’ Liability Insurance page of the MCofS website. The form should be returned direct to Perkins Slade Ltd and not to the MCofS. If your club currently has Employers' Liability cover arranged via the BMC Huts Scheme, please complete and return the MCofS application form to Perkins Slade Ltd when your cover is due for renewal and a new policy will be arranged free of charge. See Employers’ Liability FAQs.

Insurance Updates

2) Changes to Civil and Public Liability Insurance

Following discussion with our insurers, Perkins Slade Ltd., and with effect from January 2012, we have decided to reduce the level of indemnity provided for civil liability insurance including Financial Loss cover, Libel & Slander, Contractual Liability and Directors & Officers Liability cover from £10m to £5m for any one incident (£2.5m in respect of child abuse).

The level of indemnity for Public Liability remains unchanged at £10m, continuing to provide appropriate cover for a bodily injury where the claimant is left severely disabled or paralysed. The MCofS website has further information and the background to the changes.

sportscotland Avalanche Information Service SMS Text Service

It is now possible to receive free daily text messages from the sportscotland Avalanche Information Service.  Click here for further information on the SAIS website and here for the relevant article on Grough.

Mountain Mind Quiz

Dundee Mountain Club are to host this year’s Mountain Mind Quiz.

The Glamis Suite has been booked in the Queens Hotel, Perth Road, Dundee for the evening of Wednesday 14th March 2012.

There will be further information to follow - please put this in your clubs diaries and let your members know the date.

This message is from the Dundee Mountain Club

Torridon Youth Hostel ‘Club Meet Club’ Weekend 3^rd & 4^th February 2012

SYHA Hostelling Scotland is delighted to invite all members of clubs affiliated to the Mountaineering Council of Scotland to Torridon Youth Hostel for a special opening weekend. For this weekend only shared dormitory accommodation is available for just £10 per person per night.

Club members are invited to book individually; Meet members of other clubs and share experiences of hill walking, either on the hill or in the evening.

To take advantage of this great value offer please phone our reservations team on 0845 293 7373 or book online via http://www.syha.org.uk/.

Winter 2012-13: More great news! Torridon Youth Hostel will be open Friday & Saturday nights from November to February; and open for the festive period. Sole use bookings are also available during the winter months. A great location for your 2013 Burns Supper.

Mike Dales
Membership Development Officer