by Ian Slattery 

In an industrial estate on the edge of Leeds city centre, a huge warehouse converted into a skatepark is the setting for an inspirational set of coaches, leaders and volunteers that use ‘wheeled sports’ to reduce inequality and raise aspirations.

That means they aren’t simply bringing in talented skateboarders and BMX or scooter riders, giving them some coaching and letting them ride for a couple of hours. The LS-TEN team are built to work with young people who might face challenges at home or school, as well as anyone who sees the skatepark as a place to clear their head, to be their true selves.

With sessions that include after school clubs, community groups, youth offending sessions and youth clubs, the skills employed by the coaches as LS-TEN are built around interpersonal relationships, trust and empathy. Yet, as niche as those sessions might sound, the pillars of successful coaching still come back to the Play Their Way fundamentals of Voice, Choice and Journey.

We caught up with two of the LS-TEN coaches, Elsie and Ro, at a midweek youth club hosted at the skatepark. They explained that the nature of skateboarding as an activity can help to reach some young people who are put off by more traditional, competitive sports.

Club Case Study: LS-Ten Skatepark

Everybody is welcome

When coaching children who have been put off other sports, or traditional educational settings, for whatever reason, clearly understanding where they’re coming from and where you can help them get to – their journey – is crucial. It’s that part of the role at LS-TEN that allow the coaches to have maximum impact.

“Our role here isn’t just as a skateboard teacher,” Elsie said. “There’s obviously a lot more that comes with working with vulnerable young people.”

Giving the young people a voice to tell their story or explain their motivations is the only way to help them get the most out of their time at LS-TEN, and central to that is building trust.