Terms & Conditions

‘’All climbing activities have a risk of serious injury. Participants must recognise that even if they follow all good practice there may still be the risk of accident and injury. It is the responsibility of the participant to adhere to the conditions of use.’’ – Association of British Climbing Wall (ABC) Participation Statement

FREEKLIME – Terms & conditions

Introduction

FREEKLIME’s Terms & Conditions help us operate a busy bouldering centre, while ensuring that the most stringent safety standards are adhered to. These safety standards are required by law, but we see them as much more than that. They ensure that our customers are kept safe and well whilst enjoying our facilities. Bouldering is an activity with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions and involvement.

Your duty of care

The most up to date version of our Terms & Conditions will always be displayed on our website. Please take a few minutes to familiarise yourself with them. We require our customers to abide by their provisions (whether or not you have read them) and we reserve the right to require customers not acting in accordance with them to leave. No refund will be given. In respect of children and groups attending the Centre, it is the responsibility of the parent or group leader to have familiarised themselves with these Terms & Conditions and the parent or group leader is responsible for ensuring that those in their care understand and abide by them.

General

• All customers must complete a digital waiver before climbing at Freeklime. Waivers can be completed online before arriving or on one of the terminals in the centre.
• Every time you use Freeklime, please let us know that you have arrived by checking in at reception.
• You should only go into our bouldering areas if you have registered your details with us.
• As a minimum, registration details must include name, date of birth and a current contact address and at least one nominated emergency contact.
• Please keep us up to date with any changes to your personal details.
• Please do not take food or drink onto the mats.
• If you are involved in an incident or accident, or if you witness one, please ensure that it is reported to a member of our team as soon as possible.
• Aggressive or abusive behaviour towards the team or customers and / or wilful damage to Freeklime’s equipment will not be tolerated.
• We provide lockers for use with your own padlock and cubby holes to store your personal equipment.
• Personal belongings are left at the owners’ risk. Items left in Freeklime overnight will be kept in lost property and retained for one month
• Unclaimed items are passed on to local charities.
• Freeklime accepts no responsibility for loss or damage to your personal property.
• We accept no responsibility for personal injury caused by or during attendance on any activity.
• We accept no responsibility for loss, damage or injury caused by or during attendance on any activity to yourself or your belongings.
• We sometimes take photos and videos of customers for the sole use of Freeklime’s publicity and marketing material. Permission will be sought during filming and photography sessions but if you wish not to be caught on camera, please come and tell a member of the team during these events.
• We reserve the right at our absolute discretion to refuse access to and / or membership of Freeklime
• For your safety and security we operate CCTV throughout Freeklime.
• We reserve the right to amend these terms and conditions without notice.

Bouldering general

“The British Mountain Council [BMC] recognises that climbing, bouldering and mountaineering are activities with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants in these activities should be aware of and accept these risks and be responsible for their own actions.”

• A full version of the participation statement outlining the risks inherent in climbing activities is made available throughout Freeklime. Please ensure you have read and understood these guidelines before climbing with us.
• All climbers must complete a digital waiver before climbing at Freeklime.
• All customers who are new to climbing must attend an induction session before completing their waiver. The team will ask questions to check your understanding of the risks and safety requirements before signing you in for your first climb, but your safety at the wall is your responsibility.

Bouldering is a high risk, physically challenging activity which frequently results in falls. Any fall can result in serious injury regardless of the level of experience of the climber. By bouldering in our centres you acknowledge that you accept these risks.

The soft flooring under the bouldering walls is designed to provide a more comfortable landing for climbers coming off walls. It does not make bouldering any safer or prevent injury.

Rules to make bouldering safer

• Jumping and falling off the bouldering wall, whether controlled or not may result in a serious injury. You are strongly advised to climb down and step off the wall.
• Before starting a climb, ensure that you plan where you will be able to perform a controlled descent. If you feel a controlled descent is not possible, do not attempt the climb.
• Never walk or climb underneath anyone who is bouldering.
• Shoe hire is £3 and a full range of sizes is available at reception.
• Do not hold on to or climb on top of the top of the wall
• When choosing a route to climb, always give way to those already on a climb. Climbers on vertical problems have priority.
• Keep the matting clear at all times. Objects left lying around can cause or exacerbate incidents.
• Be aware of spinning holds, they may suddenly spin and cause you to fall. If you discover a spinning hold, please report it to a member of the team immediately.
• Jewellery should be removed before taking part in any activity.
• By registering with us you accept that sometimes some areas of the wall may be closed for routine maintenance, route setting purposes or events. This is to improve both the community and the centre and we will not always be able to warn you in advance. We do not offer refunds or reduction of entry fees or memberships due to areas being closed.

Adult unsupervised bouldering

• Once you have completed your waiver and our team are satisfied that you understand the safety requirements and risks of climbing, you can use the centre without supervision.
• All new climbers are required to complete an induction with one of our team members, even if accompanied by a more experienced climber.

Unsupervised bouldering ages 14-17

• Climbers aged 14-17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian on their first visit.
• Once their waiver is signed off by the accompanying adult in person at the centre, climbers aged 14-17 are free to climb unsupervised.

Supervised junior bouldering (U14)

• Junior climbers aged 4-6 can only climb as part of a coach-led session or under close supervision.
• All climbers under the age of 14 must be supervised by an adult. One adult can supervise a maximum of two juniors (including children who aren’t climbing). The Freeklime team will not take responsibility for supervising children except in coach-led sessions.
• Children under four must be accompanied on a ratio of one adult to one child – i.e. if you have a baby and a five year old with you you’ll need two adults in attendance
• All adults who wish to supervise a junior climber (whether or not they climb themselves) must attend a safety induction. Supervisors are not charged entry.
• Supervision is an active process – you should be actively supervising your juniors at all times. Children who appear ‘unsupervised’ may be asked to leave.

Group supervision

• All self-lead groups must provide details of their public liability insurance and first aid qualifications at the supervision induction to be signed off.
• Once registered, group leaders are responsible for providing us with copies of up to date certificates and documents. Expiry of any document will result in your external instructor status being suspended pending a review of your new documents
• Once you have completed the supervisor induction you are entitled to oversee groups of up to six climbers (per instructor) aged 7+.
• Group rates are available to groups of five or more climbers (supervisors come for free), and should be booked and confirmed by Freeklime in advance in writing.
• External Instructors must sign themselves and their group in at reception at the start of every visit. External Instructors are not charged for entry whilst instructing.
• External Instructors are reminded that we are a shared facility and open to the public. The behaviour of their group is their responsibility. Poor behaviour of their group towards a member of our team, a customer or otherwise may result in their group being asked to leave without a refund of the entire group.
• External Instructors should not be climbing unless it is integral to the lesson. Personal climbing whilst teaching a group is dangerous and is unsafe practice
• External Instructors acting in an unsafe manner will be asked to leave the Centre with their group. No refund will be given and they may be banned from instructing at Freeklime. This is at the absolute discretion of Freeklime

Coach-led sessions bought online or at the venue

• Payment for all coach-led sessions is taken at the time of booking. For sessions that are ‘included in entry’ customers are welcome to spend as long as they wish in the centre before/after the session period.
• Cancellations received 24 hours or more before the session are eligible for 100% refund. Cancellation must be received by email or via phone.

Coach-led group bookings

• Group bookings are only confirmed on payment of a 50% depositbased on the number of attendees you book for. Once paid, you’ll receive a written record of your booking details.
• The remainder of the balance is payable before or on arrival for your session.
• Additional participants can be added on the day up to a maximum of twelve per coach.
• Cancellations received 7 days or more before the session will be eligible for a full refund. Deposits are non-refundable for cancellations received less than 7 days before the event. All refunds will be processed back to the card on which payment was originally made.
• For bookings made inside the 7 day notice period, no refunds will be given for cancellation or changes to the booking.
• Organisers are responsible for letting Freeklime know of any health conditions or medical issues that may affect a participants’ involvement in the climbing activities, or any special requirements for the group.
• Organisers are responsible for ensuring all participant data is collected in line with Freeklime’s insurance requirements, including waiver documentation, before the session.
• If we have to cancel your session, we will do our best to rearrange the session at a mutually convenient time. If rearrangement is not possible, any payment already made will be refunded in full.
• Groups are taught on specific instructor to student ratios. If you book onto an group session, you are agreeing to the teaching ratios Freeklime has set for that session. These ratios may vary between groups and the ratio used is at the absolute discretion of Freeklime. Session ratios do not take into account specific individual requirements. If there is a reason that you do not think a group ratio is acceptable to the student (such as different physical, behavioural or learning abilities) we can offer reduced ratio options. These may be subject to different pricing – please see website or speak to a member of Freeklime management for details.
• While attending an activity, our instructors are responsible for the group. We reserve the right to remove an individual or to stop a session if the behaviour of an individual or of the group is unsafe. No discounts will be made for sessions ending early due to disruptive behaviour.
• Sessions must start and end on time. If a group is late, we will not be able to run the session over the original finish time to make up for lost time.

Concessions

Concession pricing is available in specified centres to the following groups with proof of status. Concessionary pricing only applies to adult standard entry climbing. All coach-led sessions and inductions (including those designated ‘included in entry’) are charged at the

Membership

Our membership subscription is a monthly flat rate of £29.50.

There are no contracts and no cancellation charges. The joining fee is just £10. We think it makes us the best value bouldering centre in the UK.

What’s included?

Freeklime monthly membership includes the following benefits:

• No contract
• Can cancel anytime
• A range of coaching options
• Members’ only sessions
• Discounts and early bird booking on loads of events
• Unlimited climbing at any time

How does it work?

• At Freeklime, you can become a member on-line or on-site with one of the team. It is a simple process and will take no more than 5 minutes
• At the time of signing up, you will be asked to provide credit or debit card details from which a recurring payment will be taken on the same day each month until you decide to cancel.

Cancelling membership

• You can cancel at any time without penalty. Access to your membership services will continue until the end of the current billing cycle. No pro rata refunds will be given
• If your card expires or there are insufficient funds in your account on the date your subscription is due, we will attempt to take payment again within 48 hours. If we’re still not able to take payment we will put a note on your account that payment was declined.  Your membership services will be suspended until you settle the account (which you can do at the desk at your next visit).

Future pricing

• We reserve the right to change our membership pricing and introduce cancellation charges at a future date, but we will always let you know before we do so with enough notice for you to cancel your membership without additional charges.