A new Birmingham climbing centre is scaling the heights after receiving a £65,000 investment from regional development agency Advantage West Midlands.
Redpoint Climbing Centre opened earlier this year following months of work by climbing enthusiast Phil Minal and a dedicated team of volunteers to transform a former factory unit in Cecil Street into a fully equipped centre.
The AWM investment has funded a junior climbing wall which will be used to encourage youngsters to get started in the sport.
Redpoint is the only dedicated climbing centre in Birmingham since the closure of the Rockface in Eastside in late 2004 to make way for the £100 million Eastside Locks development.
Phil Minal, Redpoint director, said: "With 150 routes spanning all grades and covering some amazing shapes and angles, we are delighted with the facilities at the centre.
"Climbing is a fantastic pastime for people of all ages, encouraging discipline, dexterity, thought and fitness.
"Birmingham has been without a dedicated climbing facility for more than three years and this has been felt by the city's climbing community.
"The investment from Advantage West Midlands has enabled us to provide not just the advanced climbing walls but also create another wall for beginners."
Heather Broadbent, AWM partnerships manager, said the investment would have a wide ranging community benefit.
She said: "We know that the closure of the Rockface was a huge loss to the hundreds of people in and around the city who are passionate about the sport.
"Phil and his team have taken the plunge with their investment into the centre and we are delighted to have given them the chance to help in providing a facility which will encourage participation by different sections of the community.
"Additionally, the centre has created jobs which are vital to contribute to Birmingham's leisure and sport economy."
