Help YMCA Taunton finish their new climbing hall

Aim

Help us complete our indoor climbing wall so local young people can access safe, affordable, and confidence-building activities.

Who are we?

YMCA Taunton is a local charity committed to supporting young people and the wider community. From sport and wellbeing to youth work, preschool, training, and community events, we’re here to help people belong, contribute and thrive.

Why are we crowdfunding?

Our indoor climbing wall has come a long way since building work began in July 2024. The photos below show the unused space before work started, the foundations being laid, the walls being built, the empty room, and finally the (almost) complete hall.

We’re now in the final stretch, and just one key element stands between us and a fully operational facility: the auto belay safety systems.

Our original plan was to install 15 auto belays, allowing up to 15 people to climb at once. We have the space and structure to support this, but unfortunately, due to unforeseen costs elsewhere in the build, we currently only have funding for six.

Each auto belay costs £3,300, meaning we’d need to find nearly £30,000 to fully equip the wall. We’re asking our supporters to help us fund just one to begin with, but with your help, we’re hopeful we could raise enough to install even more.

This is part of a wider investment into our YMCA Taunton site, which will soon include multi-use rooms for all, a digital studio in our youth zone, and a training kitchen to support life skills and community learning. The climbing wall is a key part of this vision – a space for fitness, confidence-building, and fun, especially for young people and local groups who may not have access to activities like this elsewhere.

Sport England Match Funding

We're delighted to have received a pledge offer from Sport England for £1650. Thank you!

How we’ll spend the money raised

Funds raised will go directly towards purchasing and installing auto belay systems. These devices make climbing safer, reduce staffing needs, and allow more people to take part in independent sessions. Each auto system costs £3,300 and although we're aiming to raise funds for just one to begin with, with your help, we would love to raise more!

• £3,300 = 1 auto belay = 7 ropes to climb in hall
• £6,600 = 2 auto belays = 8 ropes to climb in hall

Community impact

This will be the only public climbing wall in Taunton! This climbing wall will offer affordable, adventurous activity in a safe, inclusive environment. It will help build confidence, fitness and social skills, especially for those who may not otherwise have access to sport. By supporting this project, you’re helping us create more opportunities for young people and local groups to get active, stay healthy, and feel empowered.

How you can play your part

There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.

1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!

2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.

3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will of course give you a shout out on our socials!

4. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made