Clinging on from the edge of closure, one of the city’s oldest and much-loved indoor climbing walls at our centre has been pulled back from the brink. Thanks to a new partnership with Youth Sports Innovations and funding from Active Devon, renovations have been carried out and the wall is now set to reach new highs with the launch of an exciting new project called ‘The Rock’ this February.
Based at our YMCA on Honicknowle Lane, the wall looked like it had seen its final ascent, due to the high maintenance costs required and the unsustainability of its existing sessions. However, after a plea we recently put out looking for help, Youth Sports Innovations have stepped up and is now set to take over management of the wall with a new project branded as ‘The Rock’.
Helping make the partnership possible was funding from Plymouth Pathfinder via Sport England, which enabled vital repairs and maintenance works to take place – without which the wall would no longer be usable.
Led by Climber, Adventurer and Expedition Leader, James Dyer, Youth Sports Innovations will begin running new sessions on the wall from 1st February. The new community-focused project aims to help more people engage in climbing and enjoy both its mental and physical health benefits.
With a top new team of professional coaches, ‘The Rock’ will host a range of new programmes, courses and events, as well as offering affordable open climbing sessions.
Tom Lavis, CEO of YMCA Plymouth said of the new partnership: “We’re incredibly grateful for the support of Youth Sport Innovations and Active Devon in helping us rescue this great asset for our community. James and his team come with a wealth of climbing experience that will greatly enhance the wall and what it offers to local people. Our organisational values complement each other, so their vision for an inclusive and community facility naturally aligned with YMCA’s mission as a local charity, we can’t wait to begin this new chapter for our climbing wall with them.”
James Dyer, Co-founder of Youth Sports Innovations said:
“We’re delighted that YMCA believed in our vision for ‘The Rock’ by putting inclusivity at its heart. The Rock will be available to all including individuals, community groups, schools and businesses. We have a fantastic team and lots of great plans for this facility, so we’re very excited to hit the ground running and get climbing.”
Find out more about The Rock by following their Instagram at @therockplymouth or visiting www.ymcaplymouth.org.uk/climbing. For general enquiries please email James at info@james-dyer.org
