The SMT have recognised the great work being done by Common Wheel and awarded them a second grant of £10,000 in 2024, following an initial award in 2023.
Common Wheel is a Glasgow-based charity that supports people managing or recovering from mental illness. It provides meaningful activities for those referred to it. Starting with bike repair in 1999, it went on to offer engagement in music, then in the visual arts. And in 2019, reckoning that physical activity was good for the mind as well as the body, it embraced climbing.
Climbing has been an unmistakable success with Common Wheel’s participants. CW fundraiser Gill Law told us: “Climbing is currently our most popular and requested activity and for the majority, once they have tried it, they are hooked. People just cannot believe their achievements and the improvements to confidence, self-esteem, personal resilience and motivation are tangible.”
The money is for two projects: first, to continue the original 10-week climbing programme. This runs indoors at The Climbing Academy’s base The Prop Store in Maryhill, and, with ClimbScotland, at outdoor venues such as Auchinstarry and Neilston. On top of this, the grant will help run four “development climbs” – days for people who’ve been through the programme and want to keep building their involvement in climbing. Common Wheel aims to offer this to 30 of its “graduates” and sees no problem at all in reaching the target number.
According to CW, “two thirds of participants ask to return to continue climbing”. But the biggest barriers many face at this point are cost and confidence (especially when visiting new walls). Development days are about supporting people in this situation.
The first two development days ran in summer 2025. Nice weather, so both were outdoors! A bespoke climbing day at Neilston focused on trad climbing. The next day was held at Auchinstarry, where participants were able to start learning more advanced techniques and to consolidate their top-rope climbing.
Another development opportunity is to progress into a volunteering role. Three CW climbing “graduates” so far are working as volunteers, able to share the things about climbing they have learned and enjoyed. Thanks to ClimbScotland, volunteers have been able to take courses such as FUNdamentals of Climbing, , Climbing wall instructor training and assessment, and Bouldering wall instructor training.
Terry, Cathal and Chris are three men who have benefited from this programme:-
- Terry was invited to go climbing with CW when he was struggling to reconnect with people and life,. “Because it’s such a focused sport, there really isn’t room to think about anything else whilst you’re doing it,” he explained. “Climbing is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” He has completed his fundamental training and is now working towards his Climbing wall instructor assessment, supported by Common Wheel and ClimbScotland.
- Cathal’s journey with CW began after four years of voluntary university suspension due to poor mental health. “No questions about what level you’re at, people generally just accept and respect climbing for what it is …it motivated me to fix other things, like my sleep and my diet, so that I could climb better, and that really turned things around.” Cathal is now a fully qualified climbing wall instructor. (And he graduated with first-class honours!)
- Chris also started his journey as a climbing participant. “I’ve had depression on and off throughout my life,” he shared, “and 10 years ago, I was diagnosed with MS.” He stepped up when the charity was looking for volunteers – and as a volunteer he’s supported many participants, including Terry and Cathal.
More information about the experiences of these three can be found on Sportfirst digital online hub,https://sportfirst.sportscotland.org.uk/articles/focus-on-climbing)
