We’re passionate about making sure that our team represents the people and communities we’re working with.

With diverse voices driving our decision-making process and guiding our work, our team has a range of perspectives whilst all sharing a vision for change.

Meet Our Team

Rachel a white woman with long light coloured hair is climbing at an indoor wall and smiles to the camera

Rachel Briggs (she/her)

With over 20 years’ climbing experience and 8 years working within the industry, climbing has had a hugely positive impact on Rachel’s life.

  • Perhaps the most significant impact has been its healing powers and benefits to her mental health. This is why she is so passionate about sharing climbing, through her work with children and women and now through United We Climb.

Yasmin is a white woman with long hair in two plats. She is out hiking in a rich green landscape with pockets of heather.

Dr Yasmin Lazarus (she/her)

Yasmin is a paraclimber from London. She started climbing in 2014.

  • In the time elapsed since then (particularly during the forced break from climbing due to Lockdown) has experienced many health-related set-backs, eventually resulting in a diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a connective tissue disorder. Yasmin began to notice that, as a plus-sized paraclimber, she was somewhat of an anomaly in climbing centres and outdoor spaces, despite the potential of these environments to be so beneficial for people similar to herself, and the evident positive impact that it has had on both her physical and mental health. Her passion therefore grew to promote diversity, equity and inclusion within the climbing community, and she integrates the knowledge garnered from her training and work as a Psychologist whilst doing so.

Marie Uri is a black woman with shoulder length hair. She is leading a trad climb with peak district views behind her and pink heather framing the photo

Marie Uri (she/her)

Marie's is a trad climber and her work with UWC focuses on community engagement.

  • Her role involves supporting various community groups, whether they fall under the UWC umbrella or are others seeking to diversify the climbing field. Her contributions to UWC are voluntary, but her passion and drive for change in the climbing field are fueled by her deep love for climbing. 

    She is currently doing her consolidation for Climbing Wall Instructor and Abseil (CWIA) then will aim to do Rock Climbing Instructor (RCI) via the Mountain Training Association.

    Her previous experience varies from Education volunteering in Brazil to mentorship programme with Plan International and ReachOut.

Meet Our Ambassadors

  • Molly wears a black hat and jumper and smiles to the camera

    Molly Thompson-Smith (she/her)

    Molly started climbing at the age 7.

    By the time she was 12 she was in the GB youth climbing team. With titles such as a 3rd place in the Lead World Cup, she has achieved incredible things in climbing and continues to do so. Molly says “I want to help create a safe space within climbing for people of colour to feel accepted and comfortably in.”

  • Jinalee wears a UWC tshirt and black leggings she is climbing a boulder and smiles to the camera

    Jinalee De Silva

    Jinalee was introduced to climbing at university and has been climbing ever since! Originally from Sri Lanka Jinalee says “It is uncommon to see young women like myself reflected in the climbing community, both at the crag and indoor walls. We are often influenced by the people and stories that surround us and they can be a measure of who we are but more importantly who we tell ourselves we can be. I am determined to be an advocate for lesser-heard voices and promote diversity in the climbing world. I am stoked to be apart of the United We Climb team!”

Contact Us To Become An Ambassador