BMC's First Disability Symposium

© The Calvert Trust

Outdoor professionals who take (or who wish to take) people with disabilities hillwalking, climbing or mountaineering can get up to speed on the latest best practise and pick up handy skills at the BMC's inaugural disability symposium, 16-17 November.

Out and about with the Calvert Trust  © The Calvert Trust
Out and about with the Calvert Trust
© The Calvert Trust

The BMC is hosting its first ever disability symposium in conjunction with the Lake District Calvert Trust, an outdoor centre that specialises in providing outdoor activities for people with disabilities. 

This two-day Continuing Professional Development (CPD) event based at the Calvert Trust’s residential outdoor centre in Keswick will give delegates the chance to learn new skills and techniques for helping people with disabilities to get active outdoors. 

'With over 35 years experience, we are at the forefront of developing new methods and techniques to allow disabled people to participate fully' says John Ford, Outreach Team Leader at the Calvert Trust.

'This November we’re hosting the first ever BMC Disability Symposium which is designed to target those who work with people with disabilities to help them introduce more people to climbing and hillwalking. By bringing together specialists and experts from around the UK this event should be a unique and valuable opportunity for outdoor professionals to share best practise and learn new skills.'

The weekend features workshop presenters and speakers including paraclimbing world champion Fran Brown, mountaineer and quadruple amputee Jamie Andrew and Andy Kirkpatrick. 

It is aimed at keeping experienced practitioners up to date with current developments; it's also for anyone who is interested in working with disabled people for the first time.

...helping people with disabilities to actively enjoy the outdoors

Confirmed workshop titles include:

  • Making sense of climbing and hillwalking for people with complex multi-sensory impairments
  • Moving and assisting people in an outdoor environment
  • Introduction to autistic spectrum disorders
  • Wheelchair abseiling: Techniques and problem solving
  • Performance coaching of people with disabilities
  • Climbing with people with traumatic injuries
  • ‘Climbing for All’ - a day-long MTA certified course which is a great introduction to working with people with disabilities.

As well as workshops, discussions and speakers, there will be the opportunity for delegates to gain experience by running activity sessions for people from the local area who have disabilities and wish to try out climbing or hillwalking.

Thanks to funding from Sport England, the ticket price for this event is just £90, including two nights' board and accommodation and entry to the full programme. Attendance carries 1 CPD point for MTA members.

For more details and booking information email JillL@lakedistrict.calvert-trust.org.uk.


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