Under 14s need to be supervised by an adult to climb at Indirock. For children aged 4 or 5 years, one adult can supervise one child. For children aged 6-13 years, one adult can supervise two children.
The good thing is, if they show they can climb safely, they can be signed off to climb unsupervised once they reach the age of 14! More info on teen climbing here.
We do also host various instructed sessions where an adult doesn’t need to stay.
At Indirock, we offer a dedicated soft play area Tuesday-Friday for children aged 1 to 3, providing a fun and safe space for little ones. They can explore, play, and develop their motor skills under the supervision of a parent or responsible adult.
The minimum age for climbing in our main climbing areas is 4 years old. For children aged 4 and 5 we must follow these important safety measures:
We also run Wild Climbers sessions for kids aged 4-5, following the nationally recognised NICAS syllabus.
Adults can supervise up to two climbers aged 6-13, and the adult may climb too. For climbers towards the lower end of this age bracket, we recommend completing your climbing before 6pm.
We also offer a range of instructor-led sessions for this age group. Weekly Junior Bouldering Club, NICAS sessions and our Youth Squad.
* First visit only. Helps fund the inductions we give to all new climbers. We only charge adults a registration fee
* Climbing shoes essential. Hire from us or bring your own.
* Chalk isn’t essential but can help stop sweaty hands from slipping.
National Indoor Climbing Award Schemes (NICAS®) are an introduction to climbing and provide a gateway to learning more about the sport. The key aim is to provide a safe introduction to indoor bouldering for young people, and we offer weekly sessions for ages 4-5, 6-13 and 14-17. With logbooks to work through and certificates for achievement, the NICAS scheme gives candidates a great start to their climbing journeys.
If your child shows potential and the right attitude to progress, they might be selected for our Youth Squad. Our Youth Squad also follows the NICAS syllabus but goes into the higher grades, working towards exciting goals such as youth competitions or outdoor climbing trips.
We take safeguarding very seriously at Indirock and want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to support young people to stay safe.
If you have any concerns at all, you can send a confidential WhatsApp message to Indirock’s experienced safeguarding volunteers on 07519 298899. They will do their best to help you as soon as possible.
Here’s some more information from our friends at the British Mountaineering Council:
Is someone bullying you, hurting you, or doing something to you that you want to stop. You don’t have to put up with it. You have a right to be safe from abuse. There are ways of getting support.
If any of the above happens to you, you can take action to stop it. You have rights – don’t be bullied or abused.
If you are being bullied or abused, it is not your fault. Try to:
Don’t give up until someone helps you.
There is more information about safeguarding on the BMC website here
Bouldering is supposed to be about fun, an amazing community and setting your own goals. If it ever stops feeling fun, something needs to change!
We think the below video is really eye-opening about how sports can sometimes become something it’s not supposed to be. This video is aimed at adults more than it is young people, so feel free to show this to a parent, guardian or sports coach!
Indirock prides itself on being a welcoming and inclusive space for all. We want everyone to feel welcome, so if you ever have feedback for us on how we can improve our inclusivity, please let us know.
Here are some friendly groups you could look at if you’re on a journey exploring your gender and identity.
At Indirock, you’re a child right up until your 18th birthday. Happy days!
Practically anyone! Kids aged 4 and up can climb with an adult supervising. Preschoolers can join our soft play sessions, every Tuesday 10am-12pm and Friday 10am-4pm. We also run courses for ages 1+.
We have recently brought in new measures to allow 4 & 5 year olds to climb (previously our minimum age was 6).
We cordon off a section of our climbing walls and provide a range of soft play equipment, from ball pit to tunnels, steps and slide. This gives an opportunity for young children to explore our climbing walls in a controlled environment.
Under 18s should always climb under supervision of an adult. In some circumstances, where we have observed over time that a young climber (14+) is experienced and behaves in a responsible manner, we may grant them the ability to climb without supervision. We reserve absolute discretion to make this decision.
Drop us an email and we’ll get back to you asap.
