Local Swanley residents have joined forces with former Apprentice star JD O’Brien’s community interest company, Concrete Wave, to raise funds to improve their skate-park. JD says he is passionate about helping local youngsters ‘skate towards better mental and physical health’ following 16 months of lockdown restrictions.
MP for Sevenoaks and Swanley, Laura Trott, has thrown her full support behind the project: “I’m delighted to see the community of Swanley coming together once again to resurrect the skatepark. It is so important for our young people to have somewhere to meet up that is safe. And, I know many will benefit hugely from this boost to both their mental and physical health.”
The community believes that the cut up tarmac and rusty ramps, are preventing youngsters from making the most of this local resource. State-of-the-art skatepark designer Russ Holbert from Maverick Skateparks says, “the plan is to build something special for Swanley. It’s been a rotten year and so many kids have struggled. Perhaps an initiative like this can make a tangible difference to Swanley children and their overall well-being”.
Experts at SkateboardGB say that new research has shown a “striking correlation between people who skateboard and their improved mental health”, and that, “involvement in skateboarding can reduce stress, increase confidence and provide escapism”.
As campaigners warn of the physical and mental aftershocks of the pandemic hitting young people particularly badly, Chris Chambers of Altar Skateshop stresses that the impact of the new skate park could be monumental: "As a community, from a mental health perspective this new facility could provide a vital outlet. With a lack of decent places to go this will really help kids get back to enjoying life."
Concrete Wave has been formed with the ambition of driving the project forward on behalf of a number of community stakeholders: Swanley Town Council, local skaters, BMX enthusiasts and scooter riders, business owners and families, to name just a few. “It’s an ideal time to bring something positive to the community”, said Concrete Wave chairman, JD O’Brien. “Children and teenagers have spent a long hard winter and spring cooped up and isolated. We are hoping the skate-park becomes a source of pride to Swanley and a real community asset”.
Skateboarding as a part has experienced a huge surge in popularity, according to Neil Ellis, U.K. Head of Engagement at Skateboard GB (the official governing body of skateboarding in the UK). This year will see skateboarding recognised as an Olympic sport for the first time and, as Ellis says, "skateboarding is not just a sport- it is a lifestyle, and the buzz is just going to grow following the Olympics". And where better to cultivate that buzz than in Swanley?
Members of the public and corporations are invited to support the initiative via the community fundraising initiative which has been launched on Spacehive- just go to www. spacehive.com/Swanley-skatepark. For more information on the project and details of future fundraising activities (including a chance to name the park and the park art initiative sponsored by Sevenoaks Public Realm) please check out www.concretewave.org.uk.