Jonathan Conville Memorial Courses
Heavily subsidised courses for aspiring mountaineers aged 18 to 30 year olds.
Jonathan Conville Memorial Trust alpine mountaineering courses are heavily subsidised courses for aspiring mountaineers aged 18 to 30 year olds. With 50% of the course cost met by the Trust, these provide a great introduction for aspiring mountaineers.
Established in 1980 in memory of Jonathan Conville who died aged 27 climbing the Matterhorn, the Jonathan Conville Memorial Trust aims to encourage and assist young people to train for and pursue their love of the outdoors in the spirit of adventure. The JCMT has provided over 5,000 young people the essential skills needed to play safely in the mountains through their subsidised course offering in the Alps and UK. The BMC has been a key JCMT partner for forty years. The courses are administered on behalf of the JCMT by Peak Mountain Training.
The JCMT offers three types of courses: a Scottish Winter Mountaineering courses based in the Cairngorms, an Alpine Preparation course based at Plas y Brenin and Alpine courses based in Chamonix.
Based in the Cairngorms in January, this course is an introduction to winter mountaineering. Participants will become confident moving in the mountains in winter during this two-day course. Attendees will learn how to use an ice axe and crampons, select routes, navigate in winter conditions, how to avoid avalanches and learn emergency procedures. One instructor to every six participants.
Applications are now closed. Applications for the 2025 Scottish Winter Course will open in Summer 2024.
A first introduction to alpine climbing provided by a team of British Mountain Guides and based at White Peris in North Wales. Attendees will learn the basics of alpine rope work and some of the core skills necessary to climb safely in an alpine environment.
Applications for the 2025 Alpine Preparation Course will open in Summer 2024.
Based in the Chamonix Valley in June and July, this three-day course is for climbers and mountaineers who have experience of British mountaineering and who want to climb in the Alps. The ratio is one Guide to every three participants. Participants will be introduced to glacier travel, learn crevasse rescue, how to assess avalanche risk, use alpine equipment, move together in alpine terrain and alpine route planning. Not included are campsite fees, food and any cable car uplift costs that may be incurred during the course.
Applications for the 2025 Alpine Course will open in Summer 2024.
The Jonathan Conville Memorial Trust ensures young people from all walks of life, regardless of opportunity, experience the challenges and rewards of mountaineering. Through building knowledge, confidence, and ability, JCMT trains young people to safely reach their most ambitious mountaineering goals, certain that personal growth in the mountains solidifies into every other aspect of life.
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For the Alpine Chamonix course, successful applicants will need to hold rescue cover, which the BMC can provide with our Alpine & Ski policy.
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The Trust provides the opportunity for life-changing mountaineering experiences for young climbers, by offering subsidised places on alpine mountaineering courses. All funds raised will be directed toward training young people to adventure and climb safely in the big outdoors, as well as expanding their courses to open up these opportunities further.