An event is being held to celebrate the launch of a new skatepark social enterprise in south Leeds
Hunslet-based The Works Skatepark Charity has taken official ownership of the Leeds Skatepark Company. The skatepark covers 35,000 square foot and boasts professional and bespoke ramps and is used for BMXing, skateboarding, rollerblading and scooter riding.
The charity provides a safe and secure environment for children and young people to play, relax and socialise and recently arranged a buy-out of the business and has changed it into a social enterprise, which means any profiuts will be poured back into improving the skatepark and projects benefitting children and young people.
The buy out has been financed thanks to Leeds Community Foundation, Jimbo’s Fund (part of HESCO Bastion) and Social Enterprise Investment Fund (SEIF) .
The launch event of the social enterprise will be on June 14 and consits of a light lunch with refreshments and brief introduction about the park, its vision, and the unveiling of a plaque. It will be followed by a skate and BMX demo, and a dance performance by Middleton-based dance group Dazl. The Lord Mayor of Leeds will be attending.
The Leeds Works Skatepark currently works with the NHS and schools delivering a range of activities to children and young people, including sessions run in school time, after school and in the holidays. Working with a variety of children and young people who are both in full-time education and those who are not. Sessions are run for young people who not active (re-introducing them into a sport that is non-traditional, fun and different), overweight (giving them confidence), NEET (giving them some focus and developing their skills) and more.
More information on the charity’s website.
