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Help us bring climbing to more young people — by training 100 climbing walls to become truly inclusive, at no cost to them
Climbing can be life-changing. But for many disabled and neurodivergent young people, there’s still no way in.
Climbing centres often want to help — but don’t feel confident or equipped to support those with complex needs. That’s where NICAS Ascend comes in.
🧩 NICAS Ascend is a new climbing award scheme designed specifically for disabled and neurodivergent climbers. It’s flexible, individualised, and backed by tailored training and resources.
Now we want to make it available everywhere — by providing free inclusion training to 100 climbing centres across the UK.
💬 Meet Elliot
Elliot has CHARGE syndrome — a rare condition that means he is profoundly deaf, has severe learning and communication disabilities, and is unable to speak. He uses simple sign language to communicate.
He loves the outdoors. He loves being active. And now, thanks to NICAS Ascend, he loves climbing. 🧗
Elliot climbs at Summit Up Climbing Centre with Sarah, an instructor experienced in supporting people with complex needs. She uses sign language and creates a calm, welcoming environment — something that has been hard to find in most mainstream leisure spaces.
Climbing has such a positive impact on Elliot. It’s great for his fitness and problem-solving, but most importantly — he clearly loves it.
… says Elliot’s mum. She remembers the early years:
We’ve always struggled to access mainstream activities. Most places just aren’t set up to meet the needs of people like Elliot.
But with the right instructor, the right setting, and the right approach — climbing became a place where Elliot could thrive. 🌟
🎯 What your donation will do
We want every climbing centre to be ready to welcome young people like Elliot — with confidence, understanding, and the tools to deliver NICAS Ascend.
Your donation will fund:
✅ Free inclusion workshops from Access Sport at NICAS Pro Connect events
✅ Online training for coaches who can’t attend in person
✅ Continued rollout of the NICAS Ascend scheme to more walls across the UK
All at zero cost to the climbing walls.
This means centres will have no financial barrier to becoming inclusive — and families like Elliot’s won’t have to search so hard for a place that says “yes”.
⏳ Why now?
We already know it works.
We’ve seen what happens when a centre says yes, when an instructor is trained, and when the environment is right.
We just need the funding to take this national.
📍 100 climbing centres
📅 1 year
💷 No cost to them — thanks to you!
💛 Donate now and help us open the wall to everyone
Your donation will directly fund inclusion training and support for climbing walls across the UK — so that more young people like Elliot can take part, achieve, and be recognised for their effort.
Together, we can create a climbing community where everyone belongs. 🫶
👉 Click the Donate button to support inclusion training today.