MTUK Update June 2015
Last month the movers and shakers at Mountain Training got together at Tollymore in Northern Ireland for the second MTUK board meeting of the year. It was an historic occasion, not least because Rachael Hinchliffe took over as Chair of MTUK (the first female Chair the board has ever had) but also because the meeting was concluded before lunch, for the first time in history.
It was also a great opportunity for other groups to get together and there were some very successful meetings including the Finance Planning Group and the Associations Collaboration Working Group. Below you can find a summary of the meeting and also the annual report for 2014 which is available to download.
Summary of the Meeting of Mountain Training UK held on Saturday 21st June 2015 at Tollymore
Thirteen representatives from Mountaineering Councils and Mountain Training Boards met for the second management meeting of 2015. They were supported by twelve advisers and six members of MTUK’s Executive for the meeting, which was held at Tollymore National Outdoor Training Centre in the Mourne Mountains. The following items were discussed or agreed:
- New Chair and Directors: At the meeting Owen Hayward completed his three year term as Chair and the Board acknowledged the considerable number of developments during his tenure. The Board agreed unanimously to Rachael Hinchliffe taking over as his successor, the first female chair in the history of the organisation. Graeme Morrison was also appointed as a new Director and the Vice Chair of MTUK.
- Collaboration: the Board heard of a variety of positive meetings with potential partner organisations including the Scout Association, the newly formed Indoor Climb Group, British Canoeing and the Outdoor Industry Association with its report on ‘Getting Active Outdoors’.
- Registration Fees for 2016: Registration fees for all schemes have been held at 2011 prices for five years and the Boards have collectively agreed to increase them for 2016 by 8%. This will ensure effective centralised support for candidates and enable each Board’s technical staff to focus on providers.
- Climbing Awards Review: Following last Saturday’s meeting eleven Board members will now begin the review of all Mountain Training’s climbing awards with a series of public consultations, the first of which will be set up in the coming months.
- International Mountain Leader: MTUK is continuing to work with BAIML, UIMLA and BMG/IFMGA to ensure that UK IMLs can be trained and subsequently work within clearly agreed international standards (a subsequent meeting with UIMLA was scheduled for 22nd June)
- Participant Surveys: MTUK has recently surveyed participants in both the Coaching and Hill and Mountain Skills Schemes (details available on the website). While the response rates varied the feedback was very constructive and encouraging for these new schemes. Plans were being finalised for a pilot group to begin the third level Performance Coach scheme this year.
- The Professional Mountaineer magazine: The Board congratulated all involved in MTUK’s new role as publisher of the magazine and its first edition.
- Responding to the Disaster in Nepal: MTUK discussed how the membership associations could support their respective members and also received reports on both the situation in the country and the ways that individuals and organisations could continue to contribute to the work to rebuild the affected regions.
- Mental Health Charter: MTUK has now signed up to the Sport and Recreation Alliance’s Mental Health Charter.
Next meeting: 10th October 2015, Plas y Brenin
John Cousins 25/6/15
MTUK Annual Report 2014
MTUK Annual Report 2014