Costing and funding
Due to the non-standard nature of climbing wall installations, the cost can vary and as such there is no definite answer to the question “how much is a climbing wall?” The primary influence on the cost of a climbing wall is size, or more specifically, surface area: i.e. the amount of actual space that can be climbed on. So, width multiplied by height? Not necessarily: a wall that is x-wide by y-high may have more shape or relief than one that is bigger in both dimensions and therefore have the greatest surface area, despite having less width and height.
You can decide if you want a complex wall or would rather have the maximum width, thereby allowing for more rope lines in the case of lead and top rope walls, for your budget. Alternatively, you can tell us your situation with regards to user numbers and let us suggest a solution. In practice this is always a balance that can be tweaked, rather than an all-out choice between flat and shape or boring and fun!
The above is something of a simplification and the following factors can also have an effect on the cost of a wall:
• structural constraints, such as the ability of a building to withstand the additional loading presented by the addition of a climbing wall
• absence of building plans requiring testing to establish structural parameters
• difficult access: first floors, narrow or low access points
• electrical fittings that will need professional removal and refitting
• accommodation of other sporting facilities
• restricted climbing wall access and security
Safety surfaces are another factor that will impact cost. Bouldering walls that require thick, continuous crash matting are the most costly in this respect. Lead and top rope walls can use rubber crumb tiles to provide a continuous safety surface. In some cases, such as multi-use sports halls where floor space is to be shared, movable gym mats may be used.
Depending on your organisation, location and user groups you may be eligible for additional funding, loans or grants.
Below is a list of organisations that provide grants and funding. The list is by no means comprehensive. We have visited each of these web sites and believe them to be relevant, but cannot guarantee that any of these organisations will be able to assist with your project.
Updated 7/5/2010
Grant and funding Information/agencies
Government Funding
Over £2.3 billion local, regional, national and European sources
• Notification of funding rounds before they open
• Search by type of grant e.g. small grants, loans, contracts
• Emails on new and updated grant schemes
www.governmentfunding.org.uk
Grantsnet
This site searches the web for grant and funding.
www.grantsnet.co.uk
Grants Online
The UK’s leading information provider on grants from the EU, UK government, National Lottery and Grant Making Trusts.
www.grantsonline.org.uk
Fundfinder.org
Information provider.
www.fundfinder.org.uk
Access Funds
Grants information for the British charitable and non-profit sector.
www.access-funds.co.uk
Information for Schools
Fundraising for Schools.co.uk
An essential resource for anyone responsible for raising funds for schools.
www.fundraisingschools.co.uk
Teacher Net
Information provider.
www.teachernet.gov.uk
Grants 4 Schools
Information provider
www.grants4schools.info
Playground Partnerships
This award winning programme is a cross curricular programme that helps children develop essential skills to enable them to grow into responsible adults.
www.playgroundpartnerships.org
Learning through Landscapes
Learning through Landscapes helps schools and early years settings make the most of their outdoor spaces for play and learning.
www.ltl.org.uk
RBS Supergrounds
RBS Supergrounds is a community programme from The Royal Bank of Scotland Group. www.rbssupergrounds.com
NCPTA
Provides information and advice about fundraising.
www.ncpta.org.uk
Lancashire Healthy Schools Programme
Promotes physical activity in Lancashire schools.
www.lhsp.org.uk
Information for Community Groups and Councils
The People’s Millions
Grants of £20-50K for schools, voluntary or community groups, local authorities and health bodies.
www.peoplesmillions.org.uk
Community Spaces Lottery Funding.
Community Spaces is a £50 million open grants programme funded through the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces initiative and managed by Groundwork UK on behalf of an experienced national consortium.
www.community-spaces.org.uk
Awards for All
Awards for All is a Lottery grants scheme funding small, local community-based projects in the UK.
www.awardsforall.org.uk
The Big Lottery Fund
Awards Lottery funds to community groups and projects that improve health, education and the environment.
www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
The Lloyds TSB Foundation
The Lloyds TSB Foundation funds local, regional and national charities working to tackle disadvantage across England and Wales.
www.lloydstsbfoundations.org.uk
Community Foundation Network
Community foundations target grants that make a genuine difference to the lives of local people. They manage funds donated by individuals and organisations, building endowment and acting as the vital link between donors and local needs, connecting people with causes, and enabling clients to achieve far more than they could ever by themselves.
www.communityfoundations.org.uk
Santander Foundation
Funds local, regional and national charities for their work within the UK.
www.santanderfoundation.org.uk
The Asda Foundation
The ASDA Foundation is our charitable trust which was set up in 1988 to support local good causes chosen by our colleagues, and is funded by profits from the mid–week national lottery.
www.your.asda.com/asda-foundation
The Tesco Charity Trust
The Tesco Charity Trust Community Awards Scheme provides one-off donations of between £500 and £4,000 to local projects that support children and their education and welfare, elderly people and adults and children with disabilities
www.tescocharitytrustcommunityawards.co.uk
Biffaward
Biffaward is one of the most respected Landfill Communities Fund schemes, and has awarded more than £100 million to worthwhile projects since 1997. Every year, we support a large number of projects across the UK which enhance communities and biodiversity.
www.biffaward.org
Play England, Play Scotland, Play Wales
Play England aims for all children and young people in England to have regular access and opportunity for free, inclusive, local play provision and play space.
www.playengland.org.uk
www.playscotland.org
www.playwales.org.uk
Playboard Northern Ireland
PlayBoard is the leading agency for the development and promotion of children and young people's play in Northern Ireland.
www.playboard.org
Parks for People
Parks for People offers grants for projects that regenerate public parks of national, regional or local heritage value.
www.hlf.org.uk
The Prince’s Trust
Grants of up to £5000 to support projects that benefit your community.
www.princes-trust.org.uk
Fields in Trust
Fields in Trust (FIT) is the only independent UK wide organisation dedicated to protecting and improving outdoor sports and play spaces.
www.fieldsintrust.org
The Alec Dickson Trust
Funds young, with upto £500 people with projects that benefit communities.
www.alecdicksontrust.org.uk
Green Space
Works towards achieving a network of easily accessible, safe, attractive and welcoming parks, gardens and green spaces which meet the needs of everyone and which contribute to the economic, social and environmental well-being of people and places, now and for future generations.
www.green-space.org.uk
Groundwork
We create real change. That means carrying out work locally and regionally under the headings below.
We work alongside other organisations – ranging from the smallest community group to multinational businesses. We're all about helping others create change through working together and solving problems. www.groundwork.org.uk
SITA Trust
Provides grants for community improvement on landfill sites.
www.sitatrust.org.uk
