NICAS is a UK-based educational charity providing structured award schemes for young people to progress from indoor climbing to lifelong participation in climbing and mountaineering across the UK & island of Ireland.

Designed to develop technical skills, safety awareness, and confidence while having fun along the way, our schemes offer a clear, progressive pathway and are delivered by accredited centres across the UK and Ireland. Delivered by quality coaches, NICAS emphasises safety, skill-building, and creating a supportive climbing community for young climbers.

NICAS offer five schemes tailored to different climbing disciplines and ages: NICAS Wild Climbers, NICAS Clip, NICAS Bouldering, plus our original scheme for roped climbing, NICAS Climbing. We have launched a new scheme aimed at disabled and neurodivergent learners called NICAS Ascend this year. Each scheme encourages young people to explore climbing in a safe, structured environment, building essential skills while tracking their progress through personal logbooks, and celebrating their achievements through certificates and badges.