Girlguiding UK Climbing and Abseiling Scheme

This is a list of awards the holders of which are approved to instruct GGUK members. The list does not imply that these awards may be used other than at the locations and within the remit of each award.

Level 1 Equivalents

In House Awards

Other Related Qualifications/Operators

Level 2 Equivalents

Level 1 Equivalents

The Climbing Wall Award

The new 'Climbing Walls Award' as issued by MLTUK is accepted by GGUK as an equivalent to the GGUK Level 1 Award. Therefore holders of the CWA do not need to hold the Level 1 Award.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Abseiling. The GGUK Level 1 Award includes abseiling as in integral part of the award, but the new CWA does not. CWA candidates may elect to take an abseiling 'add-on' - so if you wish to teach abseiling you must have this add-on component. It is understood that the majority of CWA courses do offer this add-on, but please check the instructor's paperwork for evidence that the instructor has passed the add-on component.

Northern Ireland Education & Library Board Level 2 Awards

These are all assessed by MIA's MIC's and are therefore acceptable. Please note that the North-Eastern ELB does not issue climbing qualifications at all.

Northern Ireland Mountain Training Board - Climbing Wall Supervisor Award

This award has now been superseded by the UK wide Climbing Wall Award.

Scout National Activity Centres

There are currently five of these (see listings) - Ferny Crofts, Gilwell, Hawkhirst, Youlbury and Downe. These centres are unique in Scouting in that they are assessed by their own scheme for National Activity Centres at a higher standard than is required elsewhere in Scouting. All climbing/abseiling staff are assessed by MIA/MIC holders and are therefore accepted by Girlguiding.

Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre, Stowmarket

This wall run their own award which can be used to teach climbing on this wall only (no abseiling), and is supervised/assessed by Pat Dunphy, MIC.

Phasels Wood, Kings Langley, Hertfordshire.

This Scout Association site have a climbing tower. They have an in-house climbing scheme which is supervised and assessed by MIA/MIC holders. The current MIA contact is Barry Donovan. Please ask to confirm that any instructor to be hired has been assessed by this method (i.e. directly by an MIA or MIC).

Moor House Adventure Centre, Co. Durham - staff here are assessed by an MIC and are therefore approved for climbing and abseiling by GUK.

Hampshire CC - at Calshot Activity Centre the two resident MIA holders run courses for the centre which double as awards for elsewhere in the county. These award courses are open to all comers and provide an award which is recognised throughout the county.

Lochgoilhead Centre, Argyll. This Scout site has a wall and its own crag with its own award assessed by an MIA holder.

Fordell Firs Scottish National Scout Centre
This centre has instructors assessed by an MIC holder.

Crawfordsburn Scout Centre, nr. Bangor, Northern Ireland

This centre has instructors assessed by an MIA holder and therefore these are accepted by the Guide Association.

Lorne Guide Centre, Northern Ireland

This centre has an onsite abseil. Instructors will be assessed by an MIA holder and are qualified to run this activity on site.

Essex County Council Climbing Wall Supervisors Award

This award is no longer issued. Holders of the award will need to revalidate elsewhere and cannot use this award (as of December 2008).

In House awards from the following centres:

Craggy Island Climbing Wall, Guildford

Other Related Qualifications/Operators

Weaselling

'Weaselling' is the local name in the Peak District for rock scrambling. This has been a very popular activity for many years in the area with outdoor groups.

Weaselling is classed as a climbing related activity as it: a) requires the use of helmets, spotting and climbing techniques; b) can involve considerable drops and work near cliff edges (e.g. Higger Tor); c) is usually undertaken in areas recognised as climbing crags.

Therefore the qualifications for weaselling are:
- A National Governing Body outdoor climbing qualification: SPA, MIA, MIC, British Mountain Guide. (NB Not Climbing Wall Award)
- OR a competent adult in possession of appropriate First Aid certificate who has been trained by a holder of the MIA or MIC. The assessment must be carried out directly, and signed, by the MIA/MIC holder. This training will be site specific. The training will normally be valid for a period to be decided by the MIA/MIC but not more than five years.

Innovative Leisure, Leicester

Innovative Leisure are the importers and approved representatives of an American brand of climbing walls. GUK have accepted the training provided by Innovative Leisure as appropriate for the walls, which are classified in the same way as fairground rides.

The instructors/operators of the wall must provide a written certificate/letter signed by Mr Phil Pickersgill of Innovative Leisure to evidence that they are trained and approved operators and have been personally assessed by Mr Pickersgill - no other trainer is acceptable.

Level 2 Equivalents

Northern Ireland Education & Library Board Level 2 Awards

These are all assessed by MIA's MIC's and are therefore acceptable. Please note that the North-Eastern ELB does not issue climbing qualifications at all. These awards apply to specific local crags.

Southern Sandstone Awards issued by Local Authorities in the South -East.
Currently these are:
East Sussex (ESCC haven't issued these recently, but they may be renewed via the Sandstone Group scheme - see www.sandstoneaward.com )
West Sussex
Croydon
Surrey
Kent

Southern Sandstone Group

There may be other LEA's but we are unaware of these running currently.

Lochgoilhead Centre, Argyll. This Scout site has a wall and its own crag with its own award assessed by an MIA holder.

Fordell Firs Scottish National Scout Centre
This centre has instructors assessed by an MIC holder. It is also an AALA licensed provider.