Brand new look for Norfolk Skatepark

Kaset Skatepark in Kings Lynn recently underwent an extensive upgrade through a partnership between Skateboard GB and VIY (Volunteer It Yourself). The social enterprise which combines volunteering and DIY/construction by challenging young people aged 14-24 to learn trade and construction skills whilst helping renovate indoor skateparks.

A number of young learners worked closely with VIY mentors and 414 Ramps on all aspects of the build, offering City & Guilds accreditation in carpentry alongside the mentoring offer, as well as many of them being closely associated with the skatepark, so they have a big stake in what they are building.

The project included building a fun-box, rail, wall-ride and grind block from scratch and is main feature within this popular skatepark.

This is the third skatepark to have been given an overhaul since the partnership was created. Last year Flo Skatepark (Nottingham) had a new street skateboard course installed and LS-Ten (Leeds) was totally refurbished in the main section of the skatepark. Both of which have seen growth in numbers of people using the parks since the refurbs.

James Hope-Gill, CEO at Skateboard GB said “The partnership between Skateboard GB and VIY is really exciting, with skateparks directly benefitting from improvements and helping young people who can gain valuable skills in the process. Kaset Skatepark is home to Joe Hinson, who recently won the National Championships, so these facilities not only serve a benefit to local communities, but also to those look to compete on the world stage”

Kaset Skatepark, is now open to the public with open skateboard sessions and coaching opportunities.

NOTES :

Sport England and VIY Campaign
Over £2m of Sport England funding is to be invested in VIY, a social enterprise which combines volunteering and DIY/construction by challenging young people aged 14-24 to learn trade and construction skills whilst helping renovate and refurbish local community sports clubs and venues.

The partnership between Sport England and Volunteer It Yourself will cover the delivery of 200+ VIY projects with clubs, facilities and active spaces in need over 2020-23, at the same time as involving and benefitting 4,500 young people who are NEET (not in employment, education or training) or at high risk of becoming NEET.

More than 60% of the projects will be located in local communities among the 20% most deprived nationally, according to national Indices of Multiple Deprivation. Sport England’s support includes the provision of match funding, in conjunction with the National Lottery Community Fund, for each project to be enabled

Projects, like Kaset Skatepark have been nominated, match-funded and delivered in collaboration with national sports governing bodies such as Skateboard GB as well as, regional local authorities, The venues themselves, youth work organisations who are best placed to refer young people to volunteer and benefit, and building and construction sector employers.

VIY and Sport England are extending the offer to at least 225 grassroots sports clubs/facilities and other active spaces over 2020-2023. These projects will also be supported by VIY’s trade and construction sector partners, such as Dulux, Travis Perkins and the Federation of Master Builders, through the donation of building materials and the recruitment of professional tradespeople as skills mentors for young people.