Young people in Kirkstall and Burley are scaling new heights thanks to a new project at an innovative indoor bouldering/climbing project.
Sessions are now running at The Climbing Lab in Cardigan Fields for 11 to 17-year-olds living in the Kirkstall area.
The sessions allow time to warm up, discuss safety points and encourage appropriate goal setting and team collaboration to work out climbing problems. They run from 4.15pm – 5.45pm on Fridays.
Young people can pre-book into four-week blocks and have a Climbing Lab instructor for an hour, supplemented by youth worker supervision.
The sessions have been funded by Leeds City Council’s Inner West Community Committee.
Councillor Fiona Venner (Lab, Kirkstall) said climbing increases fitness, social skills and focus. She added:
“My colleagues Hannah Bithell, John Illingworth and I were delighted to approve the funding for the Climbing Lab project, it offers a fun and slightly more unusual evening activity for local young people.
“As well as the physical activity climbing provides it also helps build self-confidence and gives a real sense of achievement as the young people can see their improvement over the four week course.
“Once the course has finished they are left with a new skill and potentially a new hobby that they can go on to develop. I would encourage anyone who is considering it to go to the Climbing Lab and have a go, it really is a lot of fun.”
To book a place or for more information, contact Andrew Derra on 0113 378 5071 or Andrew.derra@leeds.gov.uk.