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The Girlguiding UK Rock Climbing Training Scheme covers anyone wishing to take members of Girlguiding UK rock climbing (indoors or out) and abseiling, or on related activities such as scrambling and mountaineering.

This scheme doesn't cover walking, or high ropes activities (zipwires, crate challenge and the like).

The scheme was introduced on October 31st 2002, having been developed during the previous 2 years.

This website is intended as a source of information for Guide Leaders and will be updated regularly. Please let us know if you have any useful information or queries via the contact page.

For information about the scheme please use the buttons on the left.

- The 'Outline' page gives a general picture of the scheme

- The Syllabus and Level 1,2,3 pages are detailed regulations and syllabi for those intending to gain qualification under the scheme.

- To view regional lists of crags, climbing walls, abseil towers and other locations that have been inspected for use by GA members look at 'Regional Listings'

- To view local qualifications that are approved as equivalent to the Guide Association qualifications, click here

- The site is continually updated as new information arrives. We value any local information that you might have and would welcome your contributions - please email steve@trekco.com

NEWS - 15thJuly 2008

High Ropes, 'Go Ape' and associated activities

Please note that these activities do not necessarily come under climbing regulations - please see below.

There has been a recent growth in the number of activities offered involving high ropes, high wires etc. These include (but not exclusively):

Zipwires, crate challenge, 'coconut climb', tree climb, various traverses, trapeze jumps, giant swings etc.

GGUK is currently working on a policy for these activities but some general interim guidelines are outlined below.

1. Any activity involving climbing against a surface - i.e. tree climb, revolving climbing wall, mobile climbing wall, coconut climb et al is covered by the climbing regulations. Therefore a GGUK Level 1 or equivalent will be required, or approval must be sought from GGUK Climbing Advisor, before these activities may be instructed.

2. Any activity suspended from wires or where the participant could, in the event of a fall, be suspended not against a solid surface, is categorised as a 'high ropes' activity. These activities are not covered by climbing regulations and GGUK climbing qualifications are not sufficient to teach them. Rescues may be more complex and different techniques may be required.

Therefore any activity offered in the second category above must be instructed by those approved by GGUK. We are currently researching the qualifications of commercial companies and will publish a list on this website of those companies whose instruction meets our approval.

Currently these centres operate high ropes policies acceptable to GGUK: PGL (all centres); Tolmers Scout Activity Centre.

Please note that:

a) The SPA climbing award does not qualify holders in the use of high ropes activities. The SPA is a climbing specific award.

b) Auto belay systems are not a 'cure-all' and still require fully qualified instructors to operate them. Any suggestion that this system does not require a qualified instructor in incorrect.

c) Schemes such as 'ADIPS' are not a substitute for instructional qualifications. This is a scheme which inspects the structural properties of a device, not its operation or instruction. It is not therefore relevant when asking about instruction of an activity.

If you are in any doubt about these activities please contact Gilly Davies or Bryn Beach (see 'Contacts' page).

Renewals

Please note that renewals are every 5 (yes, five) years and not three. GGHQ have received a lot of calls recently asking about this - perfectly understandably, as the original draft rules did mention a 3 year renewal. So don't panic.

Site Visits

We are trying to visit all sites on our lists as soon as possible.Please remember that you DON'T NEED TO BE VISITED before continuing to use sites that you have regularly been using.

Please send us information on new sites or sites that are missing from our lists. We can only include sites if we know they exist!

Next on our lists of visits are:

Surrey University, Scout Wall Ormskirk, Willsley, Bibbys Farm, Ross Wood, High Ashurst, Evolution Wall Crowborough, Jersey Scout Centre, Walton Firs, Hardenhuish, Pettypool College and some of the Channel Islands.

If you are involved with any of these sites and have useful information please contact us at: steve@trekco.com