WATCH: Behind-the-scenes tour of Inverness unit where The Ledge climbing centre is to be developed as co-founder Duncan McCallum shares excitement at receiving the keys
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The founders of The Ledge have received the keys to the unit where a new state-of-the-art climbing centre will be developed in Inverness.
The Ledge, a community-focused charity which will be home to an Olympic-standard climbing wall, is set to open later this year.
The goal of the adventure sports charity is to create a hub for the community where the centre will be run by climbers but open to anyone hoping to learn new life skills and improve their own mental wellbeing.
The opening of the centre will create up to 40 jobs while boosting the local economy by £1 million.
Construction is set to begin within the unit which previously housed the Harveys Furniture store in Telford Street. Industry leader, Entre-Prises – the official supplier of the Tokyo Olympics – has been awarded £500,000 to develop the climbing walls within the centre.
Watch: Virtual sneak preview of planned state-of-the-art climbing centre
Not only will the centre provide a space for climbers of all abilities to gain new skills, but there will be space for yoga sessions, a café, and a safe environment where counselling and mentoring programs can take place.
Partnering with a number of local charities, the facility will be part social enterprise, with a mission to offer valuable coping strategies to individuals of all ages who may be struggling in the face of adversity.
Sharing his excitement about receiving the keys to the unit, Duncan McCallum, chief executive of The Ledge said: "It is exciting to be getting under way with the building work after so many months of waiting and false starts.
"Not only will the climbing be great, but the work we will do in the community as a charity has never been more needed especially through our planned mental health programs, and with young people struggling to find purpose and life’s skills leading to meaningful life and employment.”
The Ledge has set up a crowdfund campaign to help support with the build of the state-of-the-art centre.
