Wanderers of Colour bouldering meet up at Mount Palace followed by a picnic in Crystal Palace park

This event is open to all people of colour. It doesn't matter how much climbing experience you have. This event is a great chance to try out bouldering for the first time, or to climb with new people, socialise and have fun in a supportive and welcoming environment. 

Cost

There is no charge from Wanderers of Colour for this meet-up but in addition to registering for this event, you will need to pay entry when you arrive at the climbing centre. Luckily this will be discounted for the purposes of the meet up:

• entry (£7.50, usually £9.50)
• free shoe hire and free chalk

Funded Places

Thanks to Mount Palace, we are able to offer 2x fully funded climbing places for climbers on no or low income at this meet-up. 

We are currently defining those on low income as anyone who is eligible or in receipt of benefit payments such as Universal Credit and Jobseeker's Allowance, or who struggles with covering the cost of their rent, bills, or food shops. 

Please select the "Funded place" ticket when you register and just give your name the same as everyone else when you arrive, your entry will have been paid for in advance.

Donations

Wanderers of Colour is a grassroots volunteer-run organisation and we all work hard to keep access to the outdoors and sports like climbing as open as possible. If you are able to make a donation, this money will help create fully funded places for people on low income to attend events like these in future as well as covering our basic (very low) administrative costs like our Google Workspace licence.

Before the event

If you're coming to Mount Palace for the first time, please register here in advance. 

If this is your first time attending a Wanderers of Colour climbing event, please fill in this form to join our WhatsApp Community, and then navigate to the "WoC Climb" group. This group is a friendly place to hear who else is coming to the meet up and also to arrange more casual meet ups with other members.

At the event

Please come and find one of the facilitators — Ash (he/him) and Cla (they/them) — before registering to climb at front desk. We will be at the entrance saying hello. If you're not sure where to go upon entering the sports centre, please contact one of the facilitators via the WhatsApp Community.  

After the event   

As this event takes place in Crystal Palace park, a casual post-climb picnic/social is an optional suggestion for those who want to explore the park! Ash will be happy to host anyone who wishes to do so. 

What to wear and bring: climbing

Please wear comfortable clothing that allows you a full range of movement. Remove any rings or anything else that might get caught in advance before you climb. Bring a water bottle, there are fountains to refill it at the gym and pound coin lockers in the changing area  if you'd like to make use of them.

Photography

Our facilitators try to take a couple of photographs during these events to help promote the next one. Please let the facilitator Ash know when you arrive if you'd rather not be photographed at all.

Nervous about coming alone?

We've all been there. Please contact us ahead of the session and we will buddy you with one of the team or members so that you can connect before and during the event. You can let us know a little bit about you and what you're looking for in terms of a buddy too and we'll do our best to facilitate those wishes. Wanderers of Colour can be reached by email via climbing@wanderersofcolour.com or via DM on Instagram.

No longer able to attend? (limited places)

If you registered for any limited place at this event, for instance a subsidised, fully funded or novice place, and are no longer able to attend, please cancel your ticket by latest 3 days before the start time of the event. If you do not cancel in time, this prevents other people from attending. We will follow up via email if you do not attend.

No longer able to attend? (other ticket types)

We'd appreciate you cancelling your ticket as it gives us a more accurate idea of how many people are coming. 

Accessibility

We have compiled some access information for this gym. For any questions regarding accessibility, please contact Matt at Mount Palace directly: telephone:  07817108141/ email: hello@mountpalace.org

Health and Safety

We are an informal community group, not a professional service. Climbing and bouldering carry inherent risks and you are responsible for your own safety. Any peer advice from facilitators or other attendees is informal and isn't endorsed by Wanderers of Colour. Follow at your own risk. Always follow the gym’s rules and seek formal instruction if required.

If you are feeling unwell or have COVID symptoms, please do not attend.