In reply to steve maher:
Multi discipline sells. £6k better spent on BCU awards + SPSA + maybe caving, then other bits and bobs like bushcraft IMHO. DofE work and Prince's Trust type stuff is to look forward to. Very little proper guiding/teaching stuff in my experience.
Also get a driving ticket - it's all gone mental out there and I think we're on last legs for grandad rights.
You can make a living, yes, but nearly all the instructors I know (and it's a lot) either have a much better off partner (me); have come from somewhere else (Forces, Police) and have pensions to look forward to; have another iron in the fire (I.T. consultants, teachers); or don't mind living hand to mouth (these tend to be the younger ones - my wife won't let us and the kids live in a van...).
Rope access is a fair option but I couldn't make it mix, as in I'd get offered work from both fields, take one then never get asked again for the one I dropped. People like you to say yes and if you don't you go down the pecking order. Eventually dropped the access stuff.
Good luck.