The Mountaineering Council of Scotland
Strategic Plan 2009-2013 (Published 3 March 2009)
"Representing, Supporting and Promoting Scottish Mountaineering"
Contents
2.1. Representing Scottish Mountaineering
2.2. Supporting Scottish Mountaineering
2.3. Promoting Scottish Mountaineering
Contact for further information
1.1. Mountaineering includes a diverse range of activities which offer people of all ages and abilities interest, exercise, challenge, reward and a sense of personal achievement in what for many becomes a passion for life.
1.2. Mountaineering directly contributes to the achievement of each of Scotland’s Strategic Objectives - a Wealthier and Fairer, Smarter, Healthier, Safer and Stronger, Greener Scotland.
1.3. The Scottish Household Survey Culture and Sport Module 2007 (published December 2008) found that 62% of the population regularly walked for more than 30 minutes - by far the most popular form of ‘sporting’ activity. Hill walking emerged from this survey as the eighth most popular sport after walking, swimming, visits to the gym for weight and aerobic training, cycling, dancing, golf and football; 5% of the Scottish population regularly enjoy hill walking.
1.4. The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) is the only recognised representative organisation for mountaineers who live in Scotland, and for everyone who enjoys walking or climbing in Scotland’s mountains. MCofS is also the national governing body for the sport of competition climbing, known internationally as sport climbing.
1.5. We represent participants in all mountaineering activities – from occasional novice hill walkers and inexperienced indoor climbers to elite athletes undertaking high altitude international expeditions. Unlike many sports, age is not a barrier to active and rewarding participation.
1.6. MCofS was founded in 1970 by the Association of Scottish Climbing Clubs (ASSC) to represent their interests. Since its foundation, MCofS has steadily grown its membership to over 10,000 at the end of 2008.
1.7. Our 130 mountaineering and climbing clubs range in size from 10 to 500 members and are run entirely by a network of about 900 volunteers. The majority of our clubs are open to all.
1.8. This strategy sets out our commitment to increasing participation and performance in all aspects of mountaineering.
MCofS aim is to
represent, support and promote Scottish mountaineering
This strategy summarises how we intend to achieve this aim between now and 2013. A more detailed action plan, together with targets, is set out in our Operational Plan 2009-2013.
Our guiding principles:
- We represent all Scottish mountaineers
- We inspire and encourage all to enjoy mountaineering activities
- We seek to remove barriers to participation in mountaineering
- We promote Scottish mountaineering at home and abroad
- We work in partnership with individuals and other organisations who share a common interest in mountaineering in Scotland
- We support a drug-free approach to mountaineering activities
2.1. Representing Scottish Mountaineering
Our goals – MCofS will:
2.1.1. Demonstrate the role that mountaineering plays in contributing to the Scottish Government’s Purpose, through its contribution to:
· GDP Growth and Productivity as a significant contributor to the economy of the Scottish Highlands and jobs in the outdoor activity sector.
· A high quality of life and physical activity, improving mental and physical well-being and life expectancy.
· Solidarity and Participation offering the opportunity to develop for people from all income groups and backgrounds.
· Cohesion as a vehicle for bringing people together and empowering individuals and groups.
· Sustainability by engendering awareness and respect for our environment.
· Scotland’s Strategic Objectives - by contributing to a Wealthier and Fairer, Smarter, Healthier, Safer and Stronger, Greener Scotland
2.1.2. Champion Scottish mountaineering by raising awareness of its economic significance, the health benefits enjoyed by those who participate, and the potential that mountaineering activities have for a lifetime of physical activity, personal achievement and challenge.
2.1.3. Act as the ‘Voice of Scottish Mountaineering’ with the Scottish Government and its agencies, and with influential partner organisations such as those in Scottish Environment LINK and the Scottish Sports Association.
2.1.4. Continue to work with other mountaineering organisations in Scotland and elsewhere to identify synergies and develop joint approaches to the development of new programmes such as coaching in mountaineering.
2.1.5. Work with other representative organisations to ensure that the voice of Scotland’s mountaineers is represented, for example with Scottish Natural Heritage and with land and deer management interest groups.
2.1.6. Raise our profile and improve public understanding of our aims, through effective marketing and communications, through the development of responsive and meaningful relationships with the media, and through appropriate PR activity.
2.1.7. Respond on behalf of Scotland’s mountaineers to issues and developments which may affect the upland landscape or their freedom to undertake mountaineering activities.
2.2. Supporting Scottish Mountaineering
Our goals – MCofS will:
2.2.1. Develop individual competence, environmental awareness and self-reliance by providing guidance to everyone interested in mountaineering in Scotland. Our educational and information areas include mountain safety, mountain weather, avalanche information, access, conservation and biodiversity, coaching and skill development.
· We will implement a mountain biodiversity education project and by 2013 reach 1000 participants involved in outdoor education activities, through mountain leader award holders.
2.2.2. Support and enable the continuing development of our network of mountaineering clubs, which provide a superb social and recreational network, and which encourage personal development through experience. We will improve our support to the club network with the aim of enabling their continuing development.
· By 2013 we aim to increase the number of clubs to 150.
2.2.3. Support Mountain Leader Training Scotland (MLTS) by attracting registrants for the range of Mountain Leader Awards, and in doing so help to build future capacity for mountaineering group leaders in a range of educational and voluntary organisations.
· We will support MLTS to achieve 4000 new registrants over the plan period.
2.2.4. Continue to innovate and improve our communications with our members and the public and together with partners such as the Mountain Weather Information Service and Scottish Avalanche Information Service, provide, facilitate, and promote a range of relevant quality information services to our members and all mountaineers.
· By 2013 we aim to achieve a running rate of 1 million mountain weather forecast downloads per annum.
2.3. Promoting Scottish Mountaineering
Our goals – MCofS will:
2.3.1. Seek to inspire and encourage people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to enjoy a range of mountaineering activities, in Scotland’s unique and varied landscape and further afield.
By 2013:
· We aim to increase regular participation in hill walking from 5% to 6% of the adult (16+) population.
· We will increase the number of female MCofS members from 25% to 35% of our total membership.
2.3.2. MCofS will work with partners in The Scottish Climbing Wall Network, the Active Schools Network, local authorities and other organisations, to inspire and encourage young and aspirant climbers to gain initial confidence and regular exercise through indoor climbing experiences linked to the Children's Player Pathway, provided at suitable facilities.
By 2013 we will:
· Establish 8 new children’s climbing clubs based at climbing wall venues, with a total of 300 members.
· Enable 50,000 children in Scotland to have access to traversing and climbing walls at schools.
· Work with our partners to organise and promote a new national climbing event and an international climbing competition, linked to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
2.3.3. Encourage all who participate in mountaineering in Scotland to do so responsibly, through our educational programmes and provision of relevant information concerning mountain safety, access and conservation.
· By 2013 we aim to increase the number of places available on our mountain safety courses and events by 65% to 800.
2.3.4. Attract and develop Scotland’s aspirant climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers through the provision and coordination of targeted development programmes and activities which provide support, encouragement and inspiration.
By 2013 we aim to have:
· Established a volunteer scheme to support children’s clubs.
· Organised school climbing competition leagues in at least 3 local education authority areas.
2.3.5. Facilitate specialist coaching and training support required by Scotland’s developing and elite climbers to progress in climbing competitions at both UK and international level.
· Our competition goal is for a Scottish athlete to achieve medal success in the Olympic Games first ever sport climbing competition in 2020.
2.3.6. MCofS will demonstrate Scotland's mountaineering heritage and its active role in international climbing by working with partners to organise and promote international climbing competitions and events.
· Over the period of the plan, we will work with our partner EICA: Ratho to organise and promote 6 new international climbing competitions.
2.3.7. Reduce barriers to participation by working through our charitable trusts and in partnership with other organisations. Although potentially naturally inclusive to all, we recognise that there are barriers to participation for some due to location, cultural background or cost.
By 2013 we aim to have:
· Trebled the number of participants in visually impaired mountaineering courses.
· Achieved the Equity Standard Preliminary Level.
· Worked with partner organisations and community representatives to establish how we may encourage and inspire under-represented groups to participate in mountaineering activities.
Our goals – MCofS will:
2.4.1. Achieve financial security which is fundamental to MCofS achieving its strategic aims.
By 2013 we will:
· Achieve an increase in membership to 12,500.
· Ensure that we retain reserves equating to 35% of turnover.
· Generate £10,000 p.a. income from sponsorship, advertising and donations.
2.4.2. We will aim to demonstrate throughout all our activities why Scottish mountaineers should become members of the MCofS, and how their interests and our work are aligned.
2.4.3. Establish key performance indicators based on these priorities from 2009, to measure and demonstrate progress towards the achievement of our strategic aims and key goals.
Contact for further information:
David Gibson, Chief Officer
01738-493947 or 07845-919150