ISSUED 26 JUNE 2007

The incoming President of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, outdoor writer Chris Townsend, has welcomed the incorporation of the Council and news of higher investment by sportscotland:

“The Mountaineering Council of Scotland welcomes sportscotland's record investment of £91,000 for the year 2007/8. The investment enables the Council to continue to encourage safe practice in the mountains through its wide range of mountain safety initiatives.

The investment will also help us to continue to develop the organisation by implementing our strategic plan and to research the views of members and the increasing numbers of the public who are venturing to the hills.

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland is the national representative body for hill walkers and climbers. Our change of status to a limited liability company means that we have achieved a significant step forward. Our 10,000 members can be assured that the Board and Directors have agreed a robust development plan, which will be backed by sound corporate governance.”

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland is the sports governing body for hill walkers, climbers and ski-tourers, collectively called mountaineers. We are a membership organisation with 10,000 members, including 3,000 individual members, and 125 affiliated hill walking and climbing Member Clubs with 7,000 members. Our management structure is entirely voluntary and appointments to our Board and Executive are the result of a democratic process. The professional staff complement is made up of seven full and part-time posts at our Perth office.

Our mission is “To represent mountaineering in Scotland, by protecting, informing and developing the interests of hill walkers, climbers and ski-tourers”.

Website: www.mountaineering-scotland.org.uk

Media contact:
David Gibson, Senior Officer. Telephone 01738-493947 or email: davidg@mountaineering-scotland.org.uk