Celebrating Fours Years of Impact in Southend: Part 1
When we first opened our doors back in March 2022, we had a simple (but pretty ambitious) idea: what if a climbing wall could change our city of Southend?
Fast forward to todayā¦ and wow. Turns out, it can. š„
At Indirock, weāre proud to be a not-for-profit social enterprise, which basically means every penny we make goes back into the work that we do. No annual bonuses for the CEO. No shareholders creaming off the profits.
And none of it would be possible without your support – every climb, every coffee, and every recommendation to a friendā¦ So, letās take a moment to celebrate what weāve achieved together to date!
Climbing for Everyone (Yes, Everyone)
From day one, weāve been on a mission to make climbing as accessible, inclusive, and welcoming as possible.
Thatās meant:
- Working with local disability charities to co-design our space before it was built
- Offering discounted sessions and adaptive climbing
- Running programmes for SEND children, refugees, and many other community groups
- Even throwing in cafĆ© vouchers for vulnerable young people, so they donāt have to climb hungry
Ā
And the impact?
- š„ 6,000+ charity & community climbs hosted
- š« 5,000+ discounted school climbs supported
- šļø 15,000+ discounted climbing sessionsĀ
- ā 22,000+ discounted cafĆ© orders
SEND Sessions:
For the past four years, weāve run a free weekly bouldering club for children with SEND, in partnership with parent-led charity SEND the Right Message. Thanks to their incredible fundraising efforts, these sessions are delivered entirely free to families, and the team uses the weekly sessions as a chance to distribute additional support such as shopping vouchers, slow cookers, calming toys and advice on DLA and energy savings to families.Ā
āBouldering has made a significant positive impact on my son’s life. Prior to starting, he struggled with low moods, frequent anger outbursts, and a negative attitude towards life. However, after beginning bouldering, his outlook on the world changed. He became more confident in his abilities and developed a more positive attitude towards learning and overcoming negative feelings. He now eagerly looks forward to his bouldering sessions and even helps by cleaning the chalk off the grips and learning more about the setup. It’s amazing to see how one activity can bring about such a positive change in someone’s life.ā – Parent
Supporting Youth Mental Health:
Between September 2024-March 2026, weāve been running Ā£1 climbing sessions for vulnerable young people, three evenings a week, supported by mental health charity Trust Links. Aimed at young people aged 11-18 (up to 25 with SEND), these sessions ran between 4-6pm every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and included a cafe voucher – an ideal hangout for teenagers after school, who might otherwise end up in trouble.Ā
Over the 18 months of this project, we engaged a total of 150 young people facing mental health and other challenges. In total, we hosted 1662 individual climbs spread over 229 sessions. Young people were supervised by an Indirock instructor and Trust Links mental health youth worker in every session.
Over the course of delivery, we have asked our young people to undertake regular reviews of their mental health and wellbeing using recognised outcome measurements including the Short Warwick Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (SWEMWBS).Ā
On average, we saw an 8% improvement in young people’s overall wellbeing by attending Bouldering Together.
Case Study:
Background
Charlie (name has been changed) is a 12-year-old boy who was referred to Trust Links in summer 2025 by his Emotional Regulation and Resilience Practitioner. At the time of referral, Charlie was not accessing school due to a combination of challenges including Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), sensory overwhelm, generalised anxiety, and separation anxiety. Mum said that Charlie would frequently have angry and emotional outbursts.Ā
Initial EngagementĀ Ā
Charlie began attending Bouldering Together on the same day as another new participant. Initially, Charlie was withdrawn and did not interact with the other youngĀ person. HeĀ remainedĀ focused on the climbing wall, avoiding eye contact and verbal communication. However, staff gentlyĀ facilitatedĀ shared experiences by encouraging both young people toĀ attemptĀ the same climbs, offer each other tips, and celebrate small successes together.Ā
Through this subtle and supportive approach, a connection began to form. Over the following weeks, their interactions grew more natural and frequentĀ andĀ haveĀ evolvedĀ into a genuine friendship. Today, the two are inseparable during sessions, problem-solving routesĀ together, andĀ sharing laughter and conversationĀ andĀ have shared contact numbersĀ to chat outside of the sessions.Ā
Outcome
Charlie now attends every Friday evening, and his enthusiasm is evident. He arrives early, greets staff and peers confidently, and often helps new participants feel welcome. Previously, Charlieās mum would need to remain in eye range of Charlie due to his anxiety, but now she is able to leave the site – something that would have felt unrealistic just months ago.Ā
His mum noted, āIĀ canātĀ believe how confidentĀ heāsĀ become in such a short space of time.Ā HeāsĀ calmer, happier, and more himself after every session.Ā These sessions are such a positive outlet for his energy, he used to often have meltdowns atĀ homeĀ but this hasĀ significantlyĀ reduced sinceĀ attendingĀ āĀ
This is just one part of our impact as a not-for-profit. Stay tuned as we celebrate more of the impact we’ve made over the past four years. Next we’re looking at:
- City centre revival
- Opportunities for vulnerable young people
Thank you for being part of our story!
