Birmingham Skaters Advocate for Indoor Facility

Winter weather presents difficulties for skateboarding. According to Birmingham Skate Spaces CIC, the city currently lacks indoor facilities that are “free, safe and legal” for skateboarders. This collective, dedicated to converting unused areas for community skating, asserts that an indoor venue would provide skaters with “a place of belonging and safety.” Rich Ward, a skater for 33 years, stated that “An indoor space would mean skateboarding all year round, a place where we could meet and the sport could flourish.” Mr. Ward is one of many skateboarders who utilize Bournbrook Skate Park, a facility built entirely by volunteers, which was the first DIY skatepark in the UK to gain formal status. He considers skateboarding addictive and enjoys the various trick combinations, noting, “These are great ways for you to dip in and out of reality, they are very therapeutic things and great for your mental health.” Shaun Boyle, co-director of Birmingham Skate Spaces, highlighted the considerable need for an indoor facility. He noted that Birmingham’s skateboarding community is currently quite small and separated, and an indoor space would contribute to changing this dynamic. The group is searching for an indoor space measuring approximately 850 sq m (9149 sq ft) or larger and has initiated an online campaign to raise £10,000. They are seeking funding, business sponsors, and donations of materials to bring their vision to fruition. Berni Good, also a co-director of Birmingham Skate Space, stated, “There’s lots of commercial units that are sitting redundant at the moment in Birmingham and we would hope that someone would allow us to use that.” Skateboard GB, the national governing body for skateboarding in England, affirmed its support for the group’s work to “ensure greater accessibility to skateboard facilities” in the city. Rich Ward observed that although Birmingham may not possess some of the facilities available in other cities, skaters compensate with “passion and enthusiasm.” He concluded, “It can only grow, it can only be better for the scene.”