Helping to develop the leaders of tomorrow
Hundreds of school students in the west have discovered a new love for skateboarding and made new friends as part of an initiative supported by the West Gate Neighbourhood Fund.
Students recently converged at the Newport Skate Park for the All Aboard Skateboarding Session – a skateboarding development session hosted by trainees from a leadership workshop - which is part of the Hobsons Bay Skate Park Activation Project.
Delivered by YMCA Community Programming in partnership with Hobsons Bay City Council, Skate Australia and Victorian Skateboard Association, the Project is creating three scalable social enterprises at skate parks across Newport, Laverton and Altona Meadows.
YMCA Community Programming will create a further three scaleable social enterprises at skate parks across Yarraville, West Footscray and Highpoint through its Maribyrnong Skate Park Activation Project.
These enterprises work similarly to sports clubs by increasing community participation in sport and provide ongoing regular social interaction for thousands of locals across the Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong municipalities.
Locals will be encouraged to take up skateboarding, scooter and BMX riding as a no-emissions form of transport using new and upgraded pathways.
As part of the Skate Park Activation Project, YMCA will recruit and train young people to deliver skateboarding workshops to students across both the Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong municipalities.
It will also establish Skate Park Leagues (SPL), a participation-based grassroots event series for skateboarders, scooter and BMX riders, with four SPL events to be delivered across the municipalities that will lead into the National Championships which will ultimately contribute to Olympic team selection for skateboarding.
YMCA Grant Project Co-ordinator, Nils Ryan, said that the Skate Park Activation Project will bring so many benefits to the community.
“YMCA teaches skateboarding in a safe encouraging environment with a focus on self-development and having fun.”
“Skateboarding promotes physical and mental wellbeing, creativity and determination. What an amazing skillset for youth to have in their tool belt!” Nils says.
YMCA Community Programming received a West Gate Neighbourhood Fund Partnerships grant for both the Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong City Council Skate Activation Projects.
See the full list of West Gate Neighbourhood Fund Partnerships stream recipients and projects.
Read more about how the West Gate Neighbourhood Fund is making a difference to communities in the West.