NICAS partners with Access Sport to make climbing more inclusive for disabled young people
NICAS is proud to announce a new partnership with Access Sport to create more inclusive climbing opportunities for disabled young people across the UK.
This collaboration brings together NICAS Ascend – the country’s first national climbing award scheme designed specifically for disabled and neurodivergent climbers – with Access Sport’s expertise in supporting community clubs to make sports more accessible.
A shared vision for inclusive climbing
At NICAS, we believe climbing should be a sport where everyone feels welcome and has the same opportunities to build confidence, skills, and a love for climbing. NICAS Ascend was developed to meet the needs of disabled young climbers, with input from Sarah Jones, Senior Development Manager at Access Sport, whose own experiences as a climbing coach and advocate for inclusive sport inspired the programme.
With Access Sport as a key partner, we will:
- Deliver specialist training for coaches at climbing and bouldering centres, equipping them with the skills to run inclusive sessions.
- Support clubs and venues through regional Access Sport teams in London, Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham, and Oxfordshire.
- Encourage clubs to join Access Sport’s Inclusive Club Network, a nationwide community working to break down barriers to sport for disabled and disadvantaged young people.
- Expand NICAS Ascend, ensuring more young climbers can engage with an award scheme designed around their needs.
Help us take NICAS Ascend national
While this partnership is a huge step forward, we still need support to bring NICAS Ascend to more venues across the country. Today, we’re launching a crowdfunding campaign to make climbing more accessible for thousands of young people facing barriers to inclusion.
📢 Join the ascent! Support our campaign by donating today and follow @nicasclimbing on social media to spread the word. Donate now>
Interested in learning more about how your club or organisation can engage with Access Sport’s Changing Sports Climbing or NICAS’s Ascend project?
Please use the link below to register your interest. Get in touch>
NICAS Ascend proudly supported by:
