Want to know about the MMC? Well, here’s the low down in ten…
- How do I join the MMC?
- How much is the joining fee and where does this money go to?
- How often are the weekend meets?
- What do I need to bring on a meet?
- How do I get to a meet?
- How many walkers and climbers are there in the club?
- What other activities will I be able to do?
- What is the climbing scene like?
- How good do I have to be to go climbing?
- Are there any regular London get togethers?
1. How do I join the MMC?
We suggest that you come on two weekend meets to see if the MMC is the right club for you. If you would then like to join, you can either ask the membership secretary via the Contact page for a form or print one off. This will need to be filled in with your current details. You will also need to find two members to propose and second you. Give the completed form to the meet organiser or any committee member and they will put your name forward at the next committee meeting. Pay your membership fee by BACS and you will then receive a smart MMC membership card which also entitles you to 15% discount at all Cotswold shops. Sounds formal but don’t be put off – in reality it’s an easy process!
2. How much is the joining fee and where does this money go to?
- Membership is open to anyone over the age of 18.
- New people joining from January 2023 to end of June 2023 pay £46 – this is £25 MMC subs, plus £21 for BMC membership insurance to the end of December 2024.
- New people joining from July 2022 to end of December 2022 pay £35.50 – this is £25 MMC subs, plus half-year BMC insurance. You will get an MMC membership card valid until August 2024.
- Existing members pay £30 to renew their membership in August, which includes a carbon offsetting contribution as voted for at the 2021 AGM.
Because we are affiliated to the BMC, you receive some of the same benefits as an individual member of the BMC, such as third party insurance, at a subsidised rate.
The rest helps to pay our club’s admin costs and provides funds for deposits on the huts we book in winter.
All the committee members and meet organisers are unpaid volunteers.
3. How often are the weekend meets?
We hold them once a month all year round with extra, informal meets in summer.
4. What do I need to bring on a meet?
Check out our recommended Kit Lists
5. How do I get to a meet?
The meets secretary pressgangs (!) unsuspecting club members to organise different meets during the year.
Usually, the organiser will then arrange transport for everyone coming on the meet as well as sending out instructions on where it is and how to get there etc. Club members share cars to cut down on driving and running costs.
Don’t forget to tell the organiser whether you can offer anyone a lift or if you need a lift to get to the meet. Sometimes we have been unable to accommodate and members have either shared hire cars or used the train.
6. How many walkers and climbers are there in the club?
There fewer than 100 fully paid up members with an average of about 12-18 attending most meets.
7. What other activities will I be able to do?
In addition to walking and climbing, there are also opportunities to go mountain biking, surfing, kayaking and, last but not least, partying!
8. What is the climbing scene like?
Many of our members (incl. the Chair, Membership, Training, Social, and Comms Secretaries) are indoor climbers too. So when they are not in lock-down mode, they can be found floating around climbing walls such as the Castle, Westway, and sometimes Mile End. Look out for the MMC t-shirts and say hello if you’d like to get to know us.
9. How good do I have to be to go climbing?
While we welcome beginners, you must already know how to belay safely and have good rope practice. If you have never climbed before, why not try it out at one of the weekend courses at either Westway or the Castle? That way, you’ll know whether you’ll enjoy it or not! Then we suggest a course is a good way to get started. For anyone with prior experience, our usual preference is to meet you at a climbing wall before a meet. We will post ‘New Members Meets’ on our Facebook Events page and Website in the run up to the event. Please get in touch with membership@themmc.org.uk if you are interested.
10. Are there any regular London get togethers?
The MMC holds social events roughly quarterly, to get together and so that prospective new members can come along and check us out! These are advertised by email and to the Facebook group, so join the email list via Marie (Membership Secretary). We kindly expect attendees to have some of the standard but relevant outdoor equipment (i.e. weather relevant walking gear, climbing harness and shoes).
If all this sounds good and you’d like to find out more, then please feel free to contact Marie at membership@themmc.org.uk.
Page last updated: 06/11/2022