Funding to support Sunderland Wall project
A fund has been created to help outdoor communities, with a Sunderland project among the first to benefit.
The North Face announced earlier this year a €1million fund to help outdoor communities facing the unprecedented challenge to survive during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among the partners now being supported are Sunderland Climbing Wall. Ashleigh Loughlin, senior instructor at Sunderland Wall, said: “We truly believe that climbing is one of, if not the best way to connect with yourself, improve your mental and physical health, have fun and meet new people.
"We want to be able to give everyone the opportunity to do that.”
By using a mobile climbing tower, Sunderland Wall has been able to bring climbing to communities that otherwise could not access it, such as local schools and charities.
Officials are hoping by giving people a taster of what climbing has to offer, they can inspire a long-lasting relationship with climbing leading to new friendships, greater confidence and deeper empathy.
Sunderland Wall had been forced to close its doors and halt their outreach programmes earlier this year due to the COVID-19 outbreak, with The North Face Explore Fund helping to support them to get back on their feet and get climbers back on the wall.
New infection prevention measures have been brought in to keep it’s mobile wall operational and safe for all.
For more about The North Face Explore Fund and its work with Sunderland Wall visit / www.thenorthface.co.uk/en_ gb/about-us/explore-fund.htm or follow @thenorthfaceuk on Ins tag ram, and@ the north face on Facebook. For more on Sunderland Wall visit https://sunderlandwall.com/