Our Story
We are a non-profit Community Interest Company working with young people and families from Leeds City Region and beyond, who are struggling to access sport, leisure and play activities due to different barriers.
As skaters ourselves, we noticed that the pandemic led to a big boom in rollerskating, with many young people wanting to learn. We know how expensive skating can be - and that for many young people the sport is still inaccessible due to cost and other barriers.
Leeds has some of the highest child poverty rates in England. We know Rollerskating can't change the world, but it can make someone's world a little nicer. By running and enabling access to fun, affordable, engaging and safe skating activities, we hope to inspire people to become more active and improve mental and physical well-being.
We are certified, safeguarding-trained, DBS-checked coaches with backgrounds in education and community engagement.
The Scholarship is run by Machteld De Ruyck (managing director) and Helen Laird (director).
Partnered with:
If you're interested in supporting us, you can:
• Donate to our fundraiser
• Buy merchandise designed by young people to raise money.
• Follow us on social media
• Spread the word
• Donate Skates
What we do
Skate Scholarships
We provide young people per year with a skate scholarship.
This includes roller skates & kit, free coaching
We offer free weekly lessons to children and young people in some of the most deprived areas of Leeds. "Skate Scholarship" Includes:
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Good quality roller skates.
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All protective equipment - helmet, pads.
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Access to free coaching
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Advice, support, skate and kit maintenance.
We currently run a bi weekly group skate scholarship session in Hunslet click below to find out more.
Free family friendly skate sessions.
In partnership with LS-TEN skatepark, we will support to run weekly free family friendly skating sessions in Cross Flatts Park In Beeston, starting in April 2025
The sessions in Beeston offer:
- Free skate rental for the whole family
- Free casual coaching
- Games, activities
- Referrals to the Scholarship
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We Collect and donate refurbished rollerskates to young people and families who can't afford to buy their own skates, pads and hardware equipment for rollerskates. So far we have donated dozens of skates.
This scheme will encourage less waste and encourage the rollerskating community to re-purpose used equipment back into the community. This will give the opportunity to young people and families to own their own rollerskates and be active through rollerskating outside of the sessions. Imroving their physical and mental well-being.
Graduate development scheme.
We run a development Scheme for Scholarship graduates. Keep in touch with Young People who have graduated from The Skate Scholarship and work with LS-TEN skatepark to develop their skills and offer them opportunities to learn how to coach.
We work with LS-TEN skatepark (who are a charity and Ofsted certified education provider), to offer development opportunities to Scholarship Graduates. E.g. when they are over 16 years old, support them in learning how to become a coach or how working in a skatepark works. Many young people we engage with are out of formal education and the skatepark will give them a way into learning new skills that go beyond the sport and will help them contribute to society.
GALLERY
