Girlguiding UK Climbing and Abseiling Scheme

Climbing Facility: 30 foot scaffold structure with wooden panels. All holds are bolt on. Three sides are useable for climbing activities. Two of the sides are full length and useable for abseiling, the other side is shorter and inclined for novice or younger climbers. It is fenced off and has seating for ease of group control. The landing areas are gravel.

It is a well managed, well maintained facility. There is also an assault course and pioneering.

Hire Charges & Equipment: There is a full range of equipment available to hire. Prices on request.

Instructors: There are on site instructional staff available for weekends. Please insist on SPA qualification and not Scout Form M as this is not acceptable to the GA.

Guide Association instructors are welcome but must show proof of qualification held.

Website: http://www.geocities.com/thorrington_uk/Activities.html

Booking Contact Details: Mrs Jean Ball 121 London Road, Lexden, Colchester, CO3 5AW Tel: 01206 571 467 Warden c/o Mrs J Archard 582a Ipswich Road, Colchester, CO4 4HB Tel: 01206 844 754

Prances Scout Site, Wickham Bishops

Great Totham Road, Wickham Bishops, Witham, Essex, CM8 3NP

Map ref: 168/848 121 Level One

This site now has a new tower, visited June 2007

The site are aware of GGUK climbing qualifications and will provide appropriate instruction.

Booking Contact Details: Dave and Teresa Cousins, Prances Cottage, Great Totham Road, Wickham Bishops, Essex, CM8 3NP Tel: 01621 892 876 Mobile: 0402 729 188/0771 302 0320 www.eastessex-scouts.org.uk E-Mail: prances@eastesssex-scouts.org.uk

Belchamps Scout Site Hawkwell, near Southend

Map ref: 178/843 915

Level One

Climbing Facility: This is a well maintained indoor facility covering one complete wall. (Approx 8m in height x 10m in width). There is also an assault course, archery, rifle and gatt gun ranges, orienteering, and an adjacent woods with nature trails.

Hire Charges & Equipment: There is a full range of equipment available to hire. Prices available by phone.

Instructors: There are on site instructional staff available for weekends.Please insist on SPA qualification and not Scout Form M as this is not acceptable to the GA.

Guide association instructors are welcome but must show proof of qualification held.

Booking Contact Details: Resident Warden: Kevin Wilson Belchamps Scout Centre, 1 Holyoak Lane, Hawkwell, Hockley, SS5 4JD Tel: 01702 205 081 E-Mail: belchamps@essexscouts.org.uk Website: www.belchamps.co.uk

Fairplay House Wickham Bishops

Level One

Climbing Facility: The climbing facility is part of an Adventure Activity Centre. The facility is unusual in that it is a steel framework covered in mesh wire and filled with a concrete texture filling. It gives the appearance and feel of real rock. It is around 10 metres in height and climbing can be done on all sides. There are numerous routes of differing heights and levels. Abseiling can take place as a central ladder gives access to the top. It is reputed to be the first of its kind in the UK. The landing area is gravel. Seating is available for non-participants for ease of group control.

Hire Charges & Equipment: There is a full range of equipment available to hire. Prices vary with number in group, hire of equipment etc. Best negotiated by telephone.

Instructors There are on site instructional staff available for weekends and weekdays. Please insist on SPA qualification and not Scout Form M as this is not acceptable to the GA.

Guide association instructors are welcome but must hold a minimum of SPA.

Booking Contact Details: Alan Clasper Tel: 01621 891 213

Skreens Park Scout Camp Site, Roxwell

Map Ref: 167/625 080

Level One

Climbing Facility: This is a 30 foot makeshift scaffold structure suitable only for abseiling activities. It has wooden panels but there are no holds. The landing area is grassed and therefore hard in the summer months. It is not particularly well fenced off, although there are benches available. Other facilities include archery, fishing, cork guns, canoeing, orienteering, pioneering, and assault course.

Hire Charges & Equipment: There is a full range of equipment available to hire upon request.

Instructors There are on site instructional staff available for weekends.Please insist on SPA qualification and not Scout Form M as this is not acceptable to the GA.

Guide association instructors are welcome but must show proof of qualification held.

Booking Contact Details: Ivan Hiskey 11 Camborne Close, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 6JD Tel: 01245 263 778

Thriftwood Scout Site, Brentwood

Warden: Bill Hindley

Orchard Avenue, Brentwood, Essex, CM13 1AG. Tel: 01277 212784

Thriftwood has a unique climbing wall/tower built in a tree. It has several facets with easy and hard climbs and could keep a group amused for some time.

Instruction is available and the warden is fully aware of the GA climbing scheme. The GA Level 1 is an acceptable qualification to the warden if you wish to instruct at this tower.

There may also be courses available leading to GA Level 1 organised at this site - please contact the warden. He also organises SPA training courses, so contact him for any details about these too.

The Thriftwood website contains much more information at: www.thriftwood.org.uk

John Bramston School/Leisure Centre, Witham

Bridge Street, Witham, CM8 1BT Tel: 01376 519200 website: www.bramstonsports.co.uk

John Bramston School in Witham has an old-syle climbing wall; a brick wall with incut holds and bricks protruding. There are ropes in situ on the wall; however there is no other equipment available for hire.

The centre requires an SPA to instruct there; but when outlined seemed to think that the GA Level 1 would be acceptable to them. It would be useful if someone local with a L1 would approach them and let me know - they seemed very amenable. Call to check.

East Mersea Youth Camp (Essex CC)

Doug Powell, Rewsalls Lane, East Mersea, Colchester, CO5 8SX. Tel: 01206 383226

website: www.eastmerseacamp.co.uk

This is a County Council facility and thus extremely well equipped and run. They have a climbing/abseil tower on site (pictures below 'borrowed' from their own website). Although on the beach and generally a centre that runs multi-activity courses, they are also involved with climbing training and have volunteered to hold Level 1 courses in combination with their own awards. No arrangements have been made, but if there is local demand please contact us and we will initiate something.

It is possible to run your own climbing sessions there (Level 1 accepted), or to hire their own staff and have them run a session for you (approved by the GA).

Tower The Camp

University of Essex, Colchester

Boundary Road, Colchester, Essex. Tel: 01206 873250 Contact: David Gladwell

This is a good modern indoor wall facility within the University sports complex. It is perhaps a little difficult in most parts for beginners or small youths, but there is certainly enough to do. The hall can be rented out by 'belays' - a strange system, but it costs £12 for 1.5 hours for 5 belays.

We are currently trying to contact Mr. Gladwell to verify the acceptability of the GA Level 1 Award.

Michael Mallison Scout Centre, Woodford Green

Level 1

Woodford Green, Essex, IG8 9RE
Tel: 02085040153

Email: sparksrs@eggconnect.net

This centre has a wall which is stored as panels inside a secure container and constructed on a framework as groups need it; after the session it is put away inside the container. The wall is several panels high with bolt on holds and is quite sifficient for a simple session. There are ground belays.

The site currently do not have any qualified staff but this situation is being addressed - please contact the Warden for details.

Hargreaves Scout Camp

Level 1

Hainault Road, Little Heath, Romford, Essex, RM6 5SR
Tel: 0208 590 0962

This site has a tower made of breeze blocks with several facets. There are cut and bolt-on holds and climbing and abseiling faces.

This site in conjunction with other local sites runs a climbing award scheme which will enable Guides to be instructed - more details to be posted.

Chigwell Row Guide Site

141 Lambourne Road, Chigwell Row, Essex, IG7 6EN.

Tel: 0208 500 2450

Level 1

This Guide site has an indoor wall as well as an abseil tower. The warden is fully up to date with Guide Association regulations and will be able to supply appropriate instructors. A local scheme operating with other sites nearby (such as Hargreaves Scout Site will enable instrcutors to gain the Guide Association qualifications.

The wall has belays and ropes in place using Gri-gris on the main section. The tower is of scaffold construction.

Stubbers OP Centre, Upminster

Level 1

Ockendon Road, Upminster, Essex, RM14 2TY

Tel: 01708 224753 website: www.stubbers.co.uk

This outdoor centre, formerly an LEA centre, is now a charity and has a climbing wall onsite as well as a mobile wall for hire for events. They accept outside qualifications with proof and are currently examining the GGUK Level 1 Award. It should be acceptable to speak to the instructor in charge of climbing and book sessions on the wall. The centre's own staff are assessed by an MIC and are therefore acceptable to GGUK.

The wall is an old brick built construction, soon to be replaced hopefully. It has many facets but access to the top is not feasible everywhere, and ropes are set up by use of tracers. Using these there is no need to access the top, and the wall should be straightforward to operate.

Grangewaters OP Centre, South Ockenden

Level 1

Thurrock Environmental and Outdoor Education Centre
Grangewaters
Buckles Lane
South Ockendon
RM15 6RS
Mr C Care

Tel/Fax:
(01708) 855228, or (01708) 856422

This centre is primarily a watersports centre located on a small lake. There is currently an abseil down the side of a tower, but in 2004 a new climbing tower is due to be built.

The centre are currently looking at the Level 1 Award with a view to its approval. The position with their own staff is not yet finalised but it is likely that GGUK Level 1 Awards will be held by staff at some time in the future.

Harlow Outdoor Pursuits Centre, Harlow

This is an Essex County Council Centre next to a canal with an outside climbing tower. The tower is about 6m high with various facets.

The centre will not permit outside staff (however they are qualified) to use the tower. You must use centre staff. However, staff onsite said that the 'qualification' required was SPA Training together with an onsite assessment from an SPA holder. This would, if the case, be entirely inadequate and you must insist on a full SPA holder to run your session.

If you have further information please contact steve@trekco.com

Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker

Level 4 (MIA/MIC)

Kelvedon Hatch Secret Nuclear Bunker
Crown Buildings
Kelvedon Hall Lane
Brentwood CM14 5TL
Essex

01277 364 883

This old bunker is a large facility which has been opened as a visitor attraction. They advertise the facility to abseil down a stairwell. The stairwell is perhaps only 10m in height but is perfectly acceptable for abseiling with the exception of potentially awkward anchors. There is a steel girder directly above the abseil which is used for a pulley rated at 2 tons; however this isn't absolutely ideal. A sling could be threaded above the top of the girder, but there may be oils etc. present. There are no doubt other options but on the whole this location is not really worth using for this purpose - it is a small abseil with no atmosphere and inherent problems.

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