The Ledge Climbing Gym and Charity

by duncan-mccallum in Inverness, Highland Council, United Kingdom

Total raised £8,562

raised so far

+ est. £1488.50 Gift Aid

143

supporters

Building a community focused Climbing Gym, that supports those less fortunate, supporting youth/adults at risk and developing life skills

by duncan-mccallum in Inverness, Highland Council, United Kingdom

We're still collecting donations

On the 16th October 2022 we'd raised £7,924 with 131 supporters in 49 days. But as every pound matters, we're continuing to collect donations from supporters.

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WHAT IS THE LEDGE?

The Ledge will be 1000m2 climbing centre/gym and charity based in Inverness, the capital of the Highlands.

As a charity, The Ledge’s purpose is to improve the lives of those facing challenges that are negatively affecting their quality of life, future prospects, and mental or physical health. 

We will do this by using the sport of climbing and our linked therapeutic programs – both indoors and outdoors - with the goal of creating a supportive and inclusive community that empowers individuals to reach new heights.

In addition, The Ledge will be Scotland’s first Bouldering Performance Centre and mountain sports training gym with a café, retail space and yoga studio also on site.

 

SOUNDS COOL – HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?

We are excited to announce that we have decided to expand our current local community crowdfunding campaign to a wider national and international audience.

This means that anyone and everyone who appreciates and understands the many potential positive benefits of The Ledge climbing gym/charity can now play a part in helping us help others. 

So, no matter whether you’re from the Highlands, Haywards Heath or Honolulu, if you value the social benefits and mental/physical wellbeing that comes from positive activity and experiences, now is the time to join us in helping bring The Ledge to life!

WHY THE LEDGE?

We live in a complex modern world where the crowded environment that surrounds us can cloud our judgement and the vision of where we are, where we want to go, and who we are. 

Finding or being introduced to something or someone that can light a spark or being shown there are good alternatives through practical experience, mentoring or self-discovery can be a life-changing revelation.

I was introduced to climbing when I was 13 by a man called Steve Clouston - a much-loved gym teacher at Dingwall Academy who gave up his personal time at the weekends to take us, a scruffy bunch of kids, Munro hill-walking and rock climbing in the Scottish Highlands. He changed my life the day he took us climbing on a small sea cliff near Kyle of Lochalsh.  

It was scary, new, and exciting and the confidence gained from climbing that first route lifted a rather lost and isolated teenager into a new world of friends, adventures, and travel.

Since that moment I have been lucky to have climbed, snowboarded, and biked all over the world, and in the process have become a more confident, capable, and rounded person (there is still room for improvement). 

Engagement with climbing and adventure has a well-proven and well-documented positive effect on people’s lives. 

When I returned to the Highlands (my homeland) six years ago after a decade living in the outdoor world of the French Alps, it was immediately obvious to me that 

a) there was a clear lack of a really good modern climbing wall in the Highlands 

and 

b) that there were almost no supporting facilities in the community helping to introduce people to the benefits of vertical and outdoor sport. 

Knowing what I personally had gained from climbing (the friendships, a sense of belonging, a career, self-confidence, direction and so many opportunities!), I decided to gather a small group of like-minded people together to make this dream come alive.

WHAT’S THE CURRENT SITUATION?

In 2017 we formed The Ledge Charity and started work to bring in funders to help deliver the social impact we want to deliver. 

Five years on, we are 90% there BUT as you will all appreciate, the current increase in costs is making it difficult for us to get this over the line. Over the past six months our building costs have increased - in some cases by 20% - leaving us facing yet another challenge when we thought we were over the line.

This is where you come in.

By contributing just a fiver or more if you can, it will help us get The Ledge over the line and on time. 

Without this support we simply won’t be able to offer the level of experience that we know the community needs and deserves. 

 

HOW WILL IT WORK?

At The Ledge, we are not trying to make lots of new climbers, but instead, use our facility and related activities to create a therapeutic learning environment by developing and running a series of classes, courses, and long-term mentored projects, which will guide people towards more positive outcomes. 

This ambition is encapsulated under the title of ‘vertical living’ where we will use climbing, indoor and outdoor activity, movement, and green/blue space work, as a tool to aid people to reach higher ground. 

Our social impact programs under the general heading of ‘vertical living’ will principally be targeted towards: 

• Supporting young people most at risk of being involved in antisocial behaviour, offending or reoffending, towards or into positive destinations. 

• Providing person-centred support for young people, parents, and families impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences and trauma. 

• Supporting young people and adults to improve their health, mental health, life skills, and wellbeing. 

• Supporting environmental education as it relates to outdoor sports and activity. 

 

These four principal aims, our ‘social impact’, will in part be funded and supported by building and running a successful climbing and adventure sports gym situated at Unit 2, Telford Street Retail Park, Inverness - a 15,000m2 ex-big box retail unit that the charity has leased for 25 years. 

The Ledge is supported by Mountaineering Scotland, the sports official governing body. 

The Ledge will include:

1000m2 of Bouldering and Lead Walls 

Digital System Boards

A Free Weights and CV Gym

A Functional Fitness Gym

A Yoga/Lecture Studio

A Fun Climbing Area for Kids and Adult Groups and Parties 

Physio And Sports Rehabilitation 

Café

Rock Shop

The Ledge is protected by a 25-year lease. We are raising money for the fit-out and to build the climbing surfaces and training and gym equipment. 

Costs to fit out the building will be close to £1,400,000. 

 

TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOUR CURRENT FUNDERS/PARTNERS…

Our public funding bodies include Highland Council, Highlands & Islands Enterprise, and Sportscotland, plus some charitable trusts and private funding. After months of negotiation, we now understand the limits of this funding and we face a funding gap of between £50,000 and £100,000. 

Our first crowdfunding target is to close the £50,000 gap and then if we can, reduce our borrowing, which would speed up the delivery and fund our charitable and social programmes.

 

WHAT’S THE TIMETABLE?

We have started on the site this summer (2022) and aim to be open in January 2023. 

 

TO SUMMARISE…

When fully funded The Ledge will become a much-needed climbing centre in the Highlands and a safe place of learning, empowerment and development for those with the greatest needs. 

Please do help us if you can – thank you.

Duncan

Below is the commissioned Hoodie and Tee-Shirt design

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Or enter custom amount

Rewards

This project offered rewards

£20 or more

"Friend" Limited Edition Tee-shirt

Show your support by wearing a limited edition "Friend" tee-shirt. The design is based on a vintage friend camming device from the late 1970's. Friends revolutionised climber protection, opening up and making safe many routes which were unattainable or protected by rock scarring pitons. The Friend for us, is therefore a symbol of widening the reach of our work whilst providing a place of safety and progress.

£5 or more

£5 Reward

For every 50 £5 donations received, we will randomly select one person who has donated £5 and give them an organic cotton Ledge tee-shirt worth £25

£10 or more

£10 Reward

For every 50 £10 donations received, we will randomly select one person who has donated £10 and give them an organic cotton Ledge Hoody worth £50

£20 or more

New Batch - Limited Edition "Friend" Tee-shirt

"Friend" Limited Edition Tee-shirt Show your support by wearing a limited edition "Friend" tee-shirt. The design is based on a vintage friend camming device from the late 1970's. Friends revolutionised climber protection, opening up and making safe many routes which were unattainable or protected by rock scarring pitons. The Friend for us, is therefore a symbol of widening the reach of our work whilst providing a place of safety and progress

£30 or more

New Batch - Limited Edition "Friend" Hoody

"Friend" Limited Edition Hoody Show your support by wearing a limited edition "Friend" Hoody. The design is based on a vintage friend camming device from the late 1970's. Friends revolutionised climber protection, opening up and making safe many routes which were unattainable or protected by rock scarring pitons. The Friend for us, is therefore a symbol of widening the reach of our work whilst providing a place of safety and progress.

£50 or more

New Batch - Limited Edition "Friend" Hoody and Tee

Show your support by wearing a limited edition "Friend" Hoody and Tee Shirt. The design is based on a vintage friend camming device from the late 1970's. Friends revolutionised climber protection, opening up and making safe many routes which were unattainable or protected by rock scarring pitons. The Friend for us, is therefore a symbol of widening the reach of our work whilst providing a place of safety and progress.

£250 or more

£250 Pledge - If you just want to help

A simple donation with no reward

£30 or more

"Friend" Limited Edition Hoody

Show your support by wearing a limited edition "Friend" Hoody. The design is based on a vintage friend camming device from the late 1970's. Friends revolutionised climber protection, opening up and making safe many routes which were unattainable or protected by rock scarring pitons. The Friend for us, is therefore a symbol of widening the reach of our work whilst providing a place of safety and progress.

£50 or more

£50 Hoody and Tee-Shirt

Show your support by wearing a limited edition "Friend" Hoody and Tee Shirt. The design is based on a vintage friend camming device from the late 1970's. Friends revolutionised climber protection, opening up and making safe many routes which were unattainable or protected by rock scarring pitons. The Friend for us, is therefore a symbol of widening the reach of our work whilst providing a place of safety and progress.

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