About us

Climb United addresses the growing issue of sedentary lifestyles among university students and staff in mountainous regions. Despite the recognised physical and mental health benefits of regular exercise, many individuals face significant barriers to participation, including disabilities, financial constraints, and lack of motivation, time or awareness. The project seeks to promote accessible physical activity as a tool for improving well-being and fostering social inclusion

Climb United will identify barriers to physical activity, implement targeted actions, and develop a best-practices toolkit for lasting impact. It strengthens cross-border cooperation and promotes well-being in higher education. By integrating outdoor sports into student and staff strategies, the project fosters inclusive, healthier academic communities and serves as a replicable model for universities across Europe.

Our Objectives:

We aim to transform the natural landscape into an accessible tool for health, sustainability, and social connection through the following goals:

Promote Accessible Sport: Encouraging mountain activities like hiking and climbing as inclusive, low-cost, and low-carbon solutions for physical health.
Remove Participation Barriers: Developing methodologies to overcome financial, motivational, and physical challenges, ensuring the inclusion of individuals with disabilities and vulnerable groups.
Create Active Environments: Establishing dedicated spaces for physical activity on campuses and raising awareness about the negative impacts of inactivity.
Foster Social Cohesion: Using shared sporting experiences to strengthen social links and build a sense of community among students and staff.
European Cooperation: A replicable model with a best-practices toolkit and research to guide higher education across Europe.

Accessible Sport

Breaking Barriers

Inclusive Action

Active Campuses

Social Cohesion

European Synergy

From Evidence to Impact

Climb United is grounded in the evidence-based premise that regular physical activity contributes positively to physical health, mental well-being, stress reduction, social cohesion, and quality of life. The project adopts a structured, data-driven approach to better understand inactivity patterns within higher education institutions and to design targeted, inclusive solutions that respond to the identified needs of different population groups.

The project operates through four core phases:

Phase 1: Large-Scale Survey

The survey identifies activity levels, barriers, and motivations across multiple institutions and countries.

Its findings help define specific target groups and inform evidence-based policy recommendations.

This data provides the scientific foundation for designing all subsequent pilot initiatives.

Phase 2: Experimentation

The project implements tailored solutions and pilots based on the survey’s specific findings.

Each initiative is systematically evaluated using quantitative indicators like participation and behavior.

This objective measurement ensures that the effectiveness of interventions is compared across contexts.

Phase 3: Impact Assessment and Recommendations

Through quantitative and qualitative data collection, the impact of targeted experimentation will be analysed. Best practices and lessons learned will be compiled into a Toolkit to support European universities in implementing similar initiatives.

Phase 4 (throughout the project): Communication and Dissemination

In order to engage with stakeholders, raise awareness, and ensure long-term impact, we will create targeted awareness campaigns, organise dissemination activities, and publish our research findings to the academic community.