Stroud Climbing Commons
Accessible Climbing for All
WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO BRING DOWN THE BARRIERS TO CLIMBING
OWN IT. MAKE IT AFFORDABLE.
Join us in building a climbing gym in Stroud
We want to create an affordable climbing gym that’s local, community-owned and fun to hang out in. We are crowdfunding this through pre-sale passes and are currently in the process of trying to secure a location so we can begin applying for grants.
Innovation
We’ve spent over half a year negotiating with insurers to get an unmanned bouldering gym model approved through what we termed a ‘super induction’. We are likely the first ever officially approved model in the UK and this means that users can come and go whenever they like during opening hours and significantly reduce the cost of entry.
Supporter’s Voices
“This would be an amazing facility for Stroud. I take my children to Gloucester but the distance and unreliable public transport means we don’t go often.”
“I’d absolutely love for there to be a climbing wall in Stroud! And so would my friends. 100% behind this!”
“A climbing centre in the Stroud area would be blooming marvelous!”
“This would be a great community asset”
“I know many in Stroud who have voiced a need/want for a local climbing facility in Stroud over the years. I know for a fact that this would be a very welcome addition to the community.”
“Be great to see this in a location in town that can be accessed on foot rather than having to drive”
We’d like to thank many people in our community who have contributed their time and expertise to this project. If you would like to get involved, please get in touch!
Core Team Members
Al Scott
Al Scott is a local furniture maker with a background in sustainable construction and architecture. Father of 2, a keen cyclist and lapsed climber!
Carl Ranscomb
Carl is a development project manger, local business owner and father of two. Keen to break down some of the barriers to climbing in Stroud.
Marc Sowik
I would love to have somewhere in Stroud to climb and to introduce my kids to the sport.
Michael Love
Design Manager with 11 years of experience managing complex technical projects, people management & contributing to business strategy.
Chik Shimasaki
OICD / commons lab
Human Identity and social cohesion specialist with an interest in catalysing community building. Background as a primary school teacher. Father of 2.
Josh Malby
Site Manager
Josh pursued a creative path as a furniture maker, working as a cabinetmaker and fabricator for bespoke 3D design companies. Currently works as a site manager for a Cheltenham-based construction company.
The Story
A group of us got together in late 2022 to see if we could apply new ideas being developed for commoning to build a climbing gym in Stroud at an affordable price and make it replicable in other towns.
Thousands of volunteer hours have been poured into this project.
the research
It turns out, building a climbing wall was much much harder than initially imagined. The cost of setting up a capital-intensive climbing facility continues to be a challenge, and the insurance for an unmanned facility was a minefield to navigate. Everything had to be learnt from the ground up and we send our thanks to all the industry and community supporters who generously provided their expert insights.
Survey and grant funding
We conducted a large survey to understand the demand, the demographics, requirements and funding preferences to determine our path forward. Despite £20k raised through crowdfunding in June 2024, we had to pull back from a location due to insufficient funds and uncertainties around grant funding. We are currently in negotiations with the Grace Network to see if we could set our pilot at Brimscombe Mill.