“I HAVE always run the business as a mum first...and this has influenced my decisions from the start”.

Sally Shelton has run Ilkley indoor climbing wall centre Clip ‘n Climb Ilkley since 2017 and works closely with local schools.

“Climbing is now an Olympic sport, so let’s get our youngsters interested - who knows, we might have an Olympic champion of the future take their first climb on our walls,” says Sally, a mum of two teenagers.

“I love serving our local community; offering a fun place for children and adults to do something together,” she says. “It doesn’t matter if you’ve never climbed before, and it makes memories for you and your kids. I can’t wait to get back to the ‘old normal’ - for school trips to come to us, scouts and guides to take their promises up our walls, the sound of Happy Birthday sung eight times on a weekend. In the meantime, we will do all we can to keep us all safe.”

The climbing centre, which opened five years ago, has 21 climbing challenges to suit all abilities, from ages two-and-a-half to adults.

“Climbing has both physical and mental health benefits,” says Sally. “There is the obvious physical fitness of doing a sport, being active and getting kids off their screens. But climbing needs co-ordination and agility; you’re using both your physical strength to get you up the wall and your mental agility in working out where your hands and feet need to go in order to get to the top.

“Climbing improves self-esteem and mental wellbeing, whether you are doing it as a child or an adult. It bonds a family through experience and creates fun memories.”

Covid safety rules have restricted numbers, but the centre has risen to the challenge. Says Sally: “I have taken risk assessments and Covid-secure procedures really seriously. We invested £20,000 in a new clipping in system and have been glad of that investment with the onset of new procedures. To allow us to follow social distancing measures we ask parents to clip their children in. With this new clipping system it’s impossible to do it wrong, so it gave me the confidence of allowing parents to do this. We also completely refurbished the centre, replacing the flooring and painting ceilings, walls and woodwork, and we deep cleaned.

“We were allowed to re-open on July 25, which was our fifth birthday, so a double celebration for us, and we opened with a third less climbers in each session. We close between sessions to clean and we take temperatures of everyone who comes on site.

“Sadly we had to close during the first local lockdown, but this time we’re allowed to be open. Although our own kids have been challenging at times during lockdown, they have done so well. It’s great to give them a treat to come climbing; I’ve been astounded to see the benefits of climbing as an activity. It builds confidence and self-esteem - you see that in just one session, it’s like magic.

“It’s also amazing for maintaining good mental health. Having to concentrate on where your hands and feet go, even for adults, really doesn’t allow you to think about anything else. It offers complete escapism for a while.”

Adds Sally: “We used to welcome so many climbers to the centre, including schools, scouts and other organised groups, hen nights, SENDs (special educational needs and disabilities) children and children’s parties.

“I work closely with schools; we became a Business Enterprise Partner with Ilkley Grammar School, the idea is to help children and young people see the relevance of education and how it relates to the workplace. I’m helping with Zoom interviews for students over the next few weeks and IGS brings groups to us.

“Many of our staff are local young adults, and I always feel it a privilege to be a first boss for many and to mentor them to prepare them for future work life.”

The centre has won awards at the Ilkley Business Awards for three years running, including Tourism and Leisure and the Winners Winner.

“Supporting local businesses is important, even more so in these times,” says Sally. “Where possible we use local companies - bakers, butchers, printers, uniform designers, accountants, and we belong to Ilkley Business Forum and support the Ilkley BID.

“Our cafe is accessible to all, so we can’t wait to welcome back breastfeeding mums, as well as those with toddlers, to our child friendly space.

“And older people have been known to simply sit and watch, with a cup of tea and flapjack!

"I'd like to say a big thank you to all our supportive customers and staff through these times. And for all the lovely comments I have received about how clean the place is and how Covid safe they feel."

* Visit clipnclimbilkley.co.uk, email info@clipnclimbilkley.co.uk or call 01943 603829.