My initiative is designed for and delivered in London
Yes
I am 18 years of age or above, by the application deadline.
Yes
My organisation is a registered legal entity
Yes
My organisation is a non-profit (e.g. school, university, or local authority) — not a for-profit, which can only join as a partner.
Yes
If there is a for-profit organisation as a partner in my initiative, they work on a cost-recovery basis only.
Yes
My solution is implemented at scale, or if not, I have a clear business plan, a minimum viable solution (prototype, pilot, or proof of concept), evidence of access to a lease for the space you are leveraging, and evidence of work or impact in London within your coalition.
Yes
I am aware that, if I am submitting more than one application to a Challenge run by Ashoka and Go! London, only one of them is able to progress through the stages.
Yes
Are you an employee (and their children and grandchildren) of Ashoka or any of its respective affiliates and participating advertising and promotion agencies?
No
I have read and accepted the Challenge Terms & Conditions.
Yes
First Name
Travis
Last Name
Tucker
Pronouns
He/Him
Email address
I would like to receive notifications and updates about Go London!, Ashoka, Ashoka Changemakers, and other Ashoka opportunities.
1
Are you an Ashoka Fellow?
No
Are you applying from an organization founded by an Ashoka Fellow?
No
If you are applying from an organization founded by an Ashoka Fellow, please specify the name and organisation of the fellow below.
Inside Out Recruitment London CIC
Lead Organisation Name
Inside Out Recruitment London CIC
Year that you started/ registered your organisation
2024
Initiative Title
Climb up!
My initiative is designed for and delivered in London
1
Website URL(s) or Social Media Handles
www.insideoutrl.co.uk
Initiative Stage
Idea (You have a solid concept and are hoping to get started in the future)
Sectors/Themes: What topic does your project most directly relate to?
Health & Fitness
Initiative Summary: Describe your initiative in one sentence
We aim to introduce young people aged 11-18 from inner London to the sport of climbing through free weekly sessions and workshops that build physical fitness and mental resilience while providing a clear pathway to recognised qualifications and future employment opportunities.
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve and who will benefit the most from your solution? How close are you to the problem and/or community impacted?
We know that young people in inner London face huge hurdles when it comes to staying active. Current figures show that less than half of children in London get the recommended 60 minutes of daily exercise. This means over half of the city's youth are not moving enough to stay healthy. This issue hits poorer families the hardest. Children from families with less money are 14% less likely to be active compared to those with more money. Cost is a massive barrier, especially in the areas where we work. Young people living in busy city centres often cannot get to good sports places easily. They often do not know what activities are out there for them. This leads to them feeling left out and hurts their mental health. We see how this lack of activity links to feelings of anxiety and isolation. We want to help solve this by offering free access to climbing. This sport is great for building strength but also for solving problems and building trust. The people who will benefit most are 150 young people aged 11 to 18 living in Lambeth, Wandsworth, and Southwark. These are areas where we know cost and access are real issues. By removing the cost, we open doors for those who would never usually get the chance to try a sport like climbing. We aim to serve young people who might otherwise miss out on the physical and mental benefits. We are very close to this community. We work directly with youth groups in these boroughs. We listen to what the young people tell us. The idea for this work came straight from them. They told their youth workers they wanted to try sports that are different from the usual ones they see. They specifically asked for experiences like this. We realised there was a strong wish among these young people to break out of their normal routine.
Your approach: How are you/ will you addressing the problem outlined above? How does your solution unlock or reimagine access to spaces for sport and physical activity? What role do landowners, local authorities, or other decision-making stakeholders play in your approach? We'd love to know about the origin of your idea, and what was your "aha" moment" that led you to take action?
We tackle the problem of inactivity and exclusion by running free weekly climbing sessions for young people aged 11 to 18. We focus on Lambeth, Wandsworth, and Southwark. These are areas where cost and lack of local facilities often stop young people from being active. Our plan is simple but effective. We provide two-hour sessions led by qualified instructors. We also run monthly workshops for those who want to learn more. This gives young people a chance to build physical strength and mental toughness in a safe place. We unlock access to sport by changing how existing spaces are used. Indoor climbing centres exist in London, but many young people from inner-city estates feel these places are not for them. They can be expensive and culturally distant. We change this by making the space free and bringing young people in as a supported group. We reimagine these centres not just as businesses, but as community hubs where young people can learn skills for life. We also offer a path to recognised qualifications. This means the space becomes a classroom for future careers in the outdoor sector, which is a huge shift in how these venues are typically viewed. To make this work, we partner with the climbing centres to secure the space. We also rely heavily on local youth clubs and schools. They are the decision-makers who help us reach the right young people. They trust us to deliver a safe experience. The youth workers attend sessions to help with behaviour and support, while our team handles the logistics and bookings. While working with youth groups in these boroughs, we heard a loud demand for something different. We realised we could do this as a standalone project to get young people from different backgrounds into the sport.
Collaboration with young people and the community: In what ways does your initiative engage young people and community members closest to the problem? What role do they play in building the solution you deliver?
We place young people right at the centre of our work. The whole idea for 'Climb up!' came from them. We spent time with youth groups in Lambeth, Wandsworth, and Southwark, and we simply listened. They told their youth workers clearly that they were bored of the usual sports on offer. They wanted to try something exciting and different. They specifically asked for activities like climbing that are often not the norm for inner-city youth. So, we built this project to answer that call. It is not us telling them what they need. It is us giving them what they asked for. Our collaboration continues every step of the way. We work hand in hand with the youth workers who know these young people best. These workers are trusted figures in the community. They help gather the groups and support them during sessions. This means the young people feel safe and understood. While our team handles the bookings and the technical side, the community leaders are there to handle the social side. This partnership ensures we stay rooted in the reality of their lives. We also keep the future of the project open to their ideas. Right now, the focus is on climbing because that is what they want. But we have made a promise to stay flexible. Over the course of the programme, if the group wants to explore other paths or different aspects of the sport, we are ready to listen. We will adapt the sessions based on their feedback and their changing needs. For example, if they want to focus more on qualifications or if they just want fun taster sessions, we will adjust our plan. We treat the young people as partners, not just participants. We want them to feel ownership of the sessions. By giving them a say in how the workshops run and what skills they learn, we help them build confidence.
Potential for/Evidence of Impact: How do you imagine your initiative will make a difference in unlocking spaces for and access to physical activity and sport so far? If you have already implemented it, what difference have you made so far? What is the impact your initiative has had , and or what impact do you envision having in the future?
We imagine our initiative will make a huge difference by opening up spaces that are often closed off to young people from inner London. We know that cost and a feeling of "not belonging" stop many from entering climbing centres. We will change this. We plan to engage 150 young people from Lambeth, Wandsworth, and Southwark in free, weekly climbing sessions. By removing the price tag, we unlock these high-quality facilities for those who need them most. The impact we envision goes deep. We are not just offering a fun day out. We are building stronger, more confident young people. We expect 80% of our participants to tell us they feel more confident and resilient after taking part. Climbing is tough. It requires you to solve problems and trust your partner. These skills transfer to everyday life. We also aim to improve the physical fitness of 90% of the group, giving them a healthy habit that can last a lifetime. We also see a clear path to long-term change. We will support 50 young people to gain recognised climbing qualifications. This is a game-changer. It turns a hobby into a potential career. It gives them a certificate that proves they have focus and skill. This opens doors to jobs in the outdoor sector, where inner-city youth are often under-represented. We have already seen a glimpse of this potential. When we ran a brief version of this activity before, we saw how eager the young people were. They clamoured to do more. That "aha" moment showed us the demand is real. We are confident we can reach a 70% retention rate because this project is built on what they actually want. By connecting local youth groups with established climbing centres, we are creating a lasting bridge. We are making these spaces welcoming and relevant for a new generation.
Innovation: What is different about your initiative compared to other solutions that are already out there? How is your approach original and innovative?
Our approach stands out because we are breaking the mould of typical youth sports. Most programmes in inner London focus on football or basketball. While these are great, many young people feel bored by the same old options. We are listening to the strong demand from young people who want to try sports that are not the norm for them. By introducing them to climbing, we are offering a fresh, exciting challenge that they usually cannot access due to high costs. We are innovative in how we use existing spaces. Indoor climbing centres are often seen as places for people with more money. We are reimagining these spaces as welcoming hubs for our community. We take young people from estates in Lambeth, Wandsworth, and Southwark and bring them into these venues. This shifts the norm of who belongs in these spaces. It shows our young people that they have a right to be there and to enjoy these facilities just like anyone else. Another key difference is our focus on real qualifications. We do not just offer a fun day out. We provide a clear route to recognised awards. We support participants to gain skills that can lead to jobs in the outdoor sector. This tackles the root problem of limited opportunities. We are turning a physical activity into a career step. This is a bold move that changes the structure of how youth sports are delivered. Finally, our way of working is unique. We do not just drop young people into a new environment. We work closely with their existing youth workers. The youth workers handle the support and behaviour, while we handle the climbing. This partnership means the young people feel safe with adults they trust, while getting professional training. This mix of comfort and challenge allows them to push their boundaries.
Viability and Scalability: How are you setting your initiative up for success, and what is your plan to ensure operational sustainability of your solution and its impact? What are your ideas for scaling your initiative to the next level?
We are setting "Climb up!" up for success by building strong partnerships from day one. We work directly with youth clubs and schools in Lambeth, Wandsworth, and Southwark. This ensures we always have a steady stream of young people ready to join. We also split the work in a smart way. Our team at Inside Out handles the bookings, the workshops, and the operational side. The youth workers, who the young people already know and trust, come along to manage behaviour and offer support. This means we can focus on delivering great climbing sessions while the youth workers handle the pastoral care. This team approach makes the project strong and reliable. To make sure our work lasts, we focus on deep impact rather than just quick wins. We have a clear plan that moves from taster sessions to regular workshops, and then to qualification training. We will use digital logbooks to track progress and identify those ready for the next step. By helping them gain national awards, we give them skills that stay with them forever. This also builds a group of skilled young climbers who can act as role models for future groups. We keep our costs manageable by using existing climbing centres rather than building our own. This allows us to put our funding directly into the sessions and the training, making every penny count. We have big ideas for growing this initiative. Our model is easy to copy in other areas. Once we have proven this works in our boroughs, we can expand to other parts of London where young people face similar barriers. We also want to listen to what the young people want next. While we are starting with climbing, we are open to exploring other sports that are not the "norm" for inner-city youth.
Roles and Responsibilities: Describe how responsibilities are shared among your team or partners.
We share the responsibilities clearly between our team and our partners to ensure the project runs smoothly. Our team at Inside Out takes the lead on all the operational parts of the programme. We are responsible for booking the climbing centres, organising the workshops, and managing the overall schedule. We handle the logistics to make sure every session is ready for the participants. The youth workers we partner with play a vital role in supporting the young people directly. They are responsible for gathering the participants from their groups in Lambeth, Wandsworth, and Southwark. During the sessions, these youth workers are present to manage behaviour and provide support. Since they already know the young people well, they are best placed to handle any personal issues that arise. This allows us to focus on delivering a high-quality climbing experience while they focus on the wellbeing of the group.
Upcoming Milestones: Please provide an overview of the milestones that are required for your initiative to come to fruition/to grow.
To ensure we reach our goals, we have planned the following key milestones: Recruitment: We will start by recruiting young people through our partner youth groups. Initial Workshops: We will run five climbing workshops to introduce the group to the sport. Identifying Progression: We will identify the young people who wish to study for a climbing qualification. Skill Building: We will hold two focused workshops to prepare them for the next step. Qualification Training: We will deliver the formal training needed for the qualification. Logbook Support: We will run more workshops to assist participants with their digital logbooks. Assessment: We will assess the effects of the programme to understand the impact we have made.
Capacity-Building Participation and Support Funding: If you were to make it as a finalist, you will be required to participate in an 8-week capacity building programme. If funding/ cost is a barrier to your participation, we may be able to offer up to 10,000 GBP of grant money available to support you. Please break down below, if it is the case, what costs you would incur and you would need covered. (Please note that there are restrictions on how the grant money may be used; please refer to the T&Cs for further details.
If we are selected as a finalist, we would need funding to support our time and to help us test our idea. We would use the grant to cover the following costs: Staff Time: To cover the cost of our team attending the 8-week capacity building programme and working on the detailed project plan. Pilot Sessions: To run the initial five climbing workshops outlined in our milestones. This would pay for venue hire and qualified climbing instructors. Youth Worker Support: To pay for youth workers to attend these pilot sessions and support the young people. Recruitment: To cover the costs of reaching out to local youth groups and recruiting the first group of participants.
