WOW! Our Crowdfunder campaign is half way through and we have already smashed our original target of £3300! We are currently at £4091 and if we can raise a total of £6600 in the next 30 days our new climbing wall will have an extra two auto belays enabling more people to climb.
We are incredibly grateful to all our kind supporters, including:
- Sport England for match funding half our original target.
- Porter Dodson for a generous donation
- Arty Rugs for a donation of rugs for our Rug Sale
- Green Days Day Care for a generous donation
- Nando’s in Taunton for a donation of Chicken Cheques!
- The Monkton Players for a generous donation
- Bargain Buys Taunton customers for donating pennies in the charity pots
- Everyone that has bought a rug
- Everyone that has booked a Quiz Night ticket
- Every individual that has made a donation
Thank you everyone – and lets see how much more we can raise in the next 30 days!
👉 Support our crowdfunder here: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/ymca-taunton-climbing-hall
YMCA Taunton Climbing Wall Project
Thanks to our successful YIF Grant, we now have an amazing new climbing hall. We are currently recruiting for a qualified Climbing Instructor and will open as soon as possible.
Ideally we need to install more auto belay systems — the devices that let climbers ascend and descend safely, even without a human belayer.
Each auto belay costs £3,300, and originally we planned to install 15 of them (allowing up to 15 people to climb simultaneously). Due to unexpected costs elsewhere in the build, our original funding only allowed for 6. We’ve now raised enough funds to install one more and are hoping to reach £6600 by 18 December which will enable us to purchase another.
Why it matters
- This will be the only public climbing wall in Taunton, bringing affordable and adventurous activity to people of all ages.
- Climbing builds more than muscle — it builds resilience, concentration, teamwork, and self-belief.
- Importantly, it gives young people and local groups access to a facility they might not otherwise afford or reach.
- It’s part of a wider vision: a refreshed YMCA Taunton site featuring multi-use spaces, a digital studio, and a training kitchen — all geared to support skills, creativity, connection, and inclusion.
How you can support us
- Make a pledge now – don’t delay as early support helps the project gain traction.
- Share widely – please share on social media, email friends, tell local groups or climbing enthusiasts.
- Offer rewards or in-kind support – if you run a business, offer something we can use as a thank-you reward (e.g. vouchers, goods, experiences).
- Run your own mini-fundraiser – get creative — a sponsored walk, bake sale, or coin collection.
Rewards
In addition to knowing you are supporting a worthwhile cause, the Crowdfunder page offers rewards for donating, including:
- Discounted squash, pickleball, badminton, astro and short tennis sessions
- Discounted room hire
- Nando vouchers
- Buying climbing sessions for others
- Be the first person to publicly climb the wall
- Name one of our auto belays
- Name our climbing hall!
Timeline & Events
We’re running the crowdfunder for 8 weeks and it’s scheduled to close at midday on Thursday 18 December. We will be running the following events that will directly support our crowdfunder:
- Rug Sale – 10-14 November 2025
We’ve still got a few rugs left, pop in to the centre and make us an offer! - Quiz Night – 28 November 2025
Booking essential, space limited
Donate now!
Thank you for believing in our vision and for helping us build something that will benefit the community for years to come.
👉 Support our crowdfunder here: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/ymca-taunton-climbing-hall
