Climbing Wall Award
The popular new award introduced in 2008!
The idea of an award aimed specifically at supervisors responsible for groups at climbing walls has been discussed for many years.
Following extensive national consultation, the Mountain leader Training Boards inducted course providers over the winter months and finally introduced the new Climbing Wall Award in January 2008.
Download the scheme registration form here
Prior to the launch of the CWA the nationally recognised minimum qualification for working in climbing walls has been the Single Pitch Award (SPA). The SPA was created in 1992 (SPSA originally) and there are currently over 9000 award holders. Since then there has been a steady development in wall design, and a massive increase in the number of walls and participants. Many regular climbing wall habitués have no intention or desire to climb outdoors but are keen and competent climbers, frustrated by the lack of a suitable national qualification that recognises their competences.
With assistance from MLTE guidelines, many local authorities have developed their own site-specific schemes over the last few years. People who have completed such schemes can apply for exemption from the training course and will be able to proceed straight to assessment.
The Climbing Wall Award training and assessment courses will be delivered at suitable walls that offer a variety of features and teaching facilities. At the start of 2008 the national Mountain Leader Training boards started inviting registrations from people who have logged suitable experience on artificial climbing walls. The main award is aimed at the typical toproping and bouldering facility. The course will focus on party supervision, safety and coaching movement skills. Because of the variety of facilities available, we have taken the step of offering an additional “bolt-on” module for facilities that include topaccess belay stations and abseiling. The logbook page will be clearly designed to show the remit of the award holder at a glance.
Some walls may choose to train both elements during the same course programme, which will typically be a weekend but may also be a series of evening sessions. The draft of the Prospectus and Syllabus was finalised at the Board meeting on 24/11/07 with some final "tweaks" after meeting prospective course providers in England, Wales and Scotland during November and December. You can obtain a digital version of the award handbook here:
Download the scheme registration form here
Download the Climbing Wall Award Handbook
You can contact info@mltuk.org or your home nation board for further information about the new Climbing Wall Award. In the meantime you would be well advised to start keeping a brief diary about climbing wall sessions (personal play and also supervising sessions: pages available online) to help you complete your logbook after registration.
We have now launched a follow-on qualification for teaching leading on artificial awards later in the year. Prerequirements for this will include the SPA or Climbing Wall Award, plus suitable additional experience.