Announcing Climbridge

Announcing Climbridge, the new climbing club in Cambridge!

Almost two years ago Dan had the idea to create a weekly Meetup group for climbers at Rainbow Rocket. This has been a great success, and has grown to an unexpected scale.

Now on top of weekly boulders we have regular trips to indoor roped climbing gyms and outdoor trips.

We recently felt the need to expand this group to a more formal non-university climbing group in Cambridge. One aimed for everyone to join, where we can facilitate trips more easily and have the means to scale properly as the number of members increase.

Hence Climbridge has been born!

What is Climbridge?

Climbridge is a climbing club, with a similar structure to a University society. We have members, a committee and will regularly organise climbing trips to Rainbow Rocket, indoor roped gyms and outdoor crags. Our aim is to simply create a diverse, welcoming community of climbers where we can support each other as we progress. 

We have been in the making for a few months, but now we are excited to announce that we are accepting members!

Our weekly bouldering sessions at Rainbow Rocket remain unchanged - there is no requirement to pay a membership fee! However to join us on trips further afield club membership will be required.

We are proud to be an affiliated club of The British Mountaineering Council (The BMC). Their memberships run from January-to-January, as a result club membership will also follow this pattern. For this first partial year (2023) the BMC fee is halved, as a result the standard Climbridge membership fee for 2023 will be £18.88. Details of concessionary rates can be found in the membership form.

Have a question? Check out the FAQs below!

FAQs

1. Who is a Climbridge Member?

   • Climbridge members are those who have paid their club membership fee, and have received a confirmation email about their membership application. 

   • Being a member lets you participate in activities away from Rainbow Rocket, and grants you all sorts of privileges and protections through the included BMC membership.

2. How do I become a member?

   • Simply go to this page to fill out the new member form. Membership cost is £30 a year and covers BMC membership for yourself as well as some running costs for the club (website running and maintenance, gear etc).

   • Note: The cost of BMC membership lowers if joining after the 1st of July each year. As a result 2023 club membership is just £18.88!

3. What roped climbing gyms do you go to?

   • We typically visit Big Rock Bond in Milton Keynes and The Castle in London. Although we are always looking to visit more and suggestions are always welcome!

4. There’s a WhatsApp? What are WhatsApp communities? What are all these groups?

   • We’ve decided to create a WhatsApp community for Climbridge, this is a place to receive announcements, and arrange spontaneous climbing and social gatherings. This is also a great place to ask questions. To join the community, fill in the form here.

   • “Climbridge Common” is the most inclusive group, members and non-members are all allowed in this group. If you are joining us at Rainbow Rocket for the first time, or you are not a member, this is likely the only group you have access to.

   • “Climbridge Members” is the group which includes official climbridge members. (You do not have to be a member to join us at Rainbow Rocket)

   • “Climbridge Committee” is for the private discussions of the Management Committee. Check out the about us page, and read the constitution (see pdf viewer below) to read about how the management committee operates. 

5. How does Climbridge Membership differ from BMC Membership?

   • Climbridge membership is a necessary requirement to participating in most Climbridge activities. (Not including regular Rainbow Rocket sessions).

   • By becoming a Climbridge member, we automatically enrol you in the BMC, this gives you (the Member) and us (the Club) all sorts of benefits and protections.

6. Do I need to become a member of Climbridge to participate in weekly Rainbow Rocket sessions?

   • No! Rainbow rocket sessions can be attended by anyone, and are a great way to meet some of your potential prospective club members!

   • Strictly speaking, these Rainbow Rocket sessions are not “Club Meets”, they are simply occasions when many members and members of the Management Committee will be there.

If any of the above has not helped to answer your question, feel free to contact us.