About Us

For over 40 years, we've believed the same thing: that challenge changes people.

Develop through Challenge started by running water sports activities for local young people on the Regent’s Canal before becoming pioneers in the UK indoor climbing scene, opening London’s first dedicated indoor climbing centre - Mile End Climbing Wall.

Climbing is still where most of our work happens today, but our purpose was never really about the wall itself. We focus on what happens when someone takes on something challenging, gets support to do it, and comes out stronger.

Our vision is to inspire personal growth through physical and mental challenges for a fitter, healthier, and more inclusive community. We get there by providing facilities, programmes and opportunities for people to be challenged, removing barriers to participation, and working together with others who share our values and vision.

Barriers such as cost, confidence, and lack of representation aren't unique to climbing. Our ambition is to take the benefits of challenge into places people wouldn't expect. We're proud of where we've come from - we're more interested in where this can go.

Our People

Our charity is run by a dedicated team, alongside a board of trustees and a Stakeholder Committee of community members.

Our Team

Dean Straw

CEO

Amy Russell

Head of Programmes, Partnerships, and Development

Ariana Tudor

Human Resources Manager

Our Trustees

Chris Beal

Chair

Angharad Corona

Trustee

Michaela Clayton

Trustee

Dean Straw (he/him)

CEO

Having spent over 30 years in the charity sector working with young people in East London, my work alongside the vibrant, diverse communities of Tower Hamlets developed existing strong views around the need for inclusivity and diversity within all aspects of society and the need for an active stance against discrimination in all forms. I hope that my passion for pursuing an active EDI agenda will help provide a more diverse and inclusive sector and help remove barriers to participation for those outside the sport.

I have been a climber and climbing coach for 25+ years and I’m proud to lead such an amazing team at Develop through Challenge and Mile End Climbing Wall.

Amy Russell (she/her)

Head of Programmes, Partnerships, and Development

I’m passionate about accessibility and inclusion in sports, arts, and wellbeing activities. I’ve been lucky enough take part in community projects throughout my life and to experience firsthand the life-long benefits and impact these opportunities have.

I’ve worked across different areas in the charity world, from community and events fundraising for a cancer research charity to marketing, community outreach and programme delivery for a women’s health and wellbeing charity. Having worked in the Marketing Team for Mile End Climbing Wall, I’m so excited to continue delivering impactful projects and build meaningful and long-lasting partnerships at Develop through Challenge!

If you have a programme idea or you'd like to have a chat about ways we could work together, I'd love to talk! Email amy@dtccharity.org to start the conversation.

Ariana Tudor (she/her)

Human Resources Manager

In my role as HR Manager, I look after the people function across both Mile End Climbing Wall and Development through Challenge.

Having previously worked within a much larger organisation, I really value the opportunity to make a visible difference – to know our people, understand what matters to them, and see the impact of the work I do. What I particularly love about working here is the passion people bring to their jobs. Whether it’s climbing, community, wellbeing or supporting others, there’s a genuine sense that people care about what they do and why they do it.

Chris Beal

Chair

I’m a management consultant and work with clients in government and the wider public sector, and before that worked as a civil servant. I also served as chair at the local mental health charity, Mind in Tower Hamlets and Newham and am a trustee at Revolving Doors Agency, a criminal justice and lived experience charity.

It’s been almost ten years since I first climbed at Mile End. I still love the welcoming, community atmosphere and sense of belonging that comes with climbing here. It’s been great to see the investment in developing and improving the site, the space, and the setting so the London community can benefit.

My vision for Develop through Challenge is to continue to offer a fantastic asset to the climbing community. Then to broaden out access and awareness so a wider and more diverse community know they can be part of what we do. And meanwhile we’ve lots to celebrate. So I think there’s work to do to help climbers and others understand what we’re about as a charity and not “just” a place to climb: how they can get involved, contribute and benefit.

Beyond that, we should think about how we partner with other organisations. Not just the schools and community groups who can (and already do) benefit from working with DtC, but also health, wellbeing and care services. And even other climbing walls who might be set up commercially but want to contribute to our charitable aims rather than compete.

Angharad Corona

Trustee

I’ve worked in the civil service for over 18 years, and have enjoyed working across health, transport, tax and consumer rights. Most of my civil service career has been spent in a variety of government communications roles. I’ve recently moved out of communications into an operational role for the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, covering estates, staff and hearing locations and business continuity.

I’m really excited to bring my comms and wider experience to support and build DTC and the wall. I want to work with the trustees and staff to help strengthen what the wall already does brilliantly, to improve and develop all aspects of the wall and the charity and to share it with others in a way that is as accessible and inclusive as possible.

Michaela Clayton

Trustee

I am an experienced fundraiser with neurodiversity and a strong passion for diversity and climbing. I have worked in fundraising for 7 years, working from small organisations that work with people with experience of homelessness, equity and poverty (Cardboard Citizens) to my new role at the internationally recognised Red Cross.

My background is raising significant income via trusts and foundations towards project-based work that supports individuals to grow wellbeing and confidence through activities. I recognise the importance of growing a community of support, and see opportunities to how DtC can grow, enabling them to reach and support more people from diverse backgrounds, reflecting the diversity of London.