In reply to TobyA:
> (In reply to jonnie3430)
>
> Earlier you were talking people going climbing for the first time;
Uni clubs are very unlikely to have instructors so "non-instructors," are going to have to take people climbing for the first time. The person should already have given written consent that they are responsible for their own actions and the club should be affiliated to BMC/MCoS to give third party liability insurance. As the climbing gear is the "non-instructors," own do you expect the "non-instructor," who is a student who is only building up their first rack to have perfect kit (i.e. H&S accounted for to outdoor centre/ instructor level?) Again, it isn't going to happen. While your comment that "they don't need to go climbing," fits in this situation, they want to go climbing and are prepared to go with the "non-instructor," (Who is prepared to take people out as that is how they got out for the first time.)
> or walking up the the Buchaille in trainers because they don't have boots.
Again, who chooses the right gear? I don't wear summer boots, I wear trainers for pretty much everything I do in dryish conditions. Does that mean I cannot climb the Buachaille? If it's raining and the person has jeans, a rubbish jacket and trainers, are they allowed to come out? Of course they are, but they are told that they will get wet and cold, and the person choosing the route has figured out how long the wet and cold person will last for and has a plan to get them into a pub for the rest of the day (along with the other wet and cold people,) Uni clubs should encourage getting out, not discourage it because of gear (winter crampons + axe for snow, obviously. Essentials, not nice to have.)
The mega question here is the intended use of the gear, which is scrambling and winter hillwalking, both activities that I would not take a helmet on. You may, guides may, it doesn't mean you have to. This Uni club wants to take helmets on scrambles and winter hillwalks. As the risk is low, then what is the point of having brand new helmets for it, when the money could be spent on fuel, hall hire or other types of kit (I wonder how many club bothy bags they have to take winter hillwalking with them?) You are right to point out that the club accepts liability if they have a rule where all scramblers and winter hillwalkers must have a helmet and then say "here are some you can use." If the club doesn't have such a rule but it is wise that you have a helmet then the individual takes the responsibility on themselves to get one, borrowing one that is over the manufacturers use by date but taking responsibility for its use onto themselves is still better than nothing.