National award for Brighton skateboarding group

Brighton-based skateboarding project, She-Shredders, received the Bronze award at the ‘National Sportivate Project of the Year’ Awards this week.

The She Shredders, a skateboarding group for young women, is a Brighton & Hove City Council Sports Development Project run in partnership with Brighton Youth Centre. The lessons were set up at the start of 2013 to encourage teenage girls and young women in the city to gain confidence and develop skills in skateboarding.

The She Shredders now meet weekly and are trained by UK Skateboarding Champion Lucy Adams. By meeting collectively and sharing experiences, the She Shredders have gained a strong bond of friendship as well as sporting achievements. Lessons have taken place across the city’s skateparks, including Woodingdean, Hove Lagoon, Brighton Youth Centre and also out at Shoreham.

Lucy said: ‘We are widely recognised as having one of the largest female skate scenes in the UK. Other skateparks across the country have been getting in touch to ask about our development model so they can recreate something similar in their area’.

Brighton & Hove City Council sports development officer Ricardo Magee Atxukarro was instrumental in setting up and supporting the group as the project lead. Ricardo was invited to a ceremony, organised by Sport England, at the Houses of Parliament to accept the award alongside Lucy on behalf of all involved. 

Ricardo Magee Atxukarro said:  “It is been great to receive national recognition for a project that is helping inspire an increase in female skateboarding. There are some great skateparks in the city and we want to make sure everyone can feel confident in using these facilities.”

The council’s sports development team helped set up the She Shredders and organises “Sportivate” courses providing skateboarding training to new recruits in a female only environment. The She Shredders training helps participants build skills and experience in a sport which is traditionally dominated by male skateboarders.

Active Sussex awarded funding from Sport England to Brighton & Hove City Council to help support the project.  Last month, the She Shredders were named as best ‘Sportivate’ project in the South East and joined 40 finalists at the national awards which took place in London on Tuesday 22 October.

She Shredders welcome female skateboarders, aged 16 to 25 years, of all abilities and especially encourages beginners to have a go at lessons. The next intake for a six week course with She Shredders begins on Wednesday 12 November, from 7 to 8pm, at the Brighton Youth Centre. To find out more contact Ricardo on Ricardo.Magee@brighton-hove.gov.uk or 01273 292726.

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Photo shows (l – r) Sadie Mason MBE Active Sussex CEO, Lucy Adams She-Shredders Coach & UK Number 1 female skateboarder and Ricardo Magee Atxukarro, Sports Development Officer at Brighton & Hove City Council, who set up and supported the group as project lead.

Photo credit: Getty images
Skateparks in Brighton & Hove

Sportivate is one of Sport England's leading community sport programmes, delivered locally by Active Sussex, which provides funding for young people aged 11-25 years old to take part in new sports very cheaply. After completion of the six or eight week courses, participants are then helped to find a club where they can continue to play the sport. Since its launch in 2011, 420,000 young people have been involved in the programme nationally. Sportivate is part of a £56 million National Lottery funded Olympic legacy programme and is being delivered by the network of 45 county sports partnerships, working with local clubs and providers.

Active Sussex is the brand name of the Sussex County Sports Partnership Trust, a not-for-profit organization and registered charity dedicated to the support, promotion and development of sport and active lifestyles throughout Sussex. Active Sussex is one of the 49 county sports partnerships across England supported by Sport England. 

Sport England is focused on helping people and communities across the country create a sporting habit for life.