A popular roller skating session started in Beeston last summer has been able to continue this winter thanks to funding of almost £10,000 from Yorkshire Sport Foundation.
Delivered by the charity LS-TEN, weekly roller skating sessions were attracting up to 100 people to Cross Flatts Park on a Saturday morning during the summer months of 2022, with support from Active Leeds. Now, thanks to the funding, the sessions have been able to continue for free this winter, providing another way for people in the local community to stay active.
The funding, which is part of Sport England’s ‘Together Fund’, has allowed LS-TEN to purchase 30 pairs of new skates and other equipment. It has also allowed the weekly hire of Cockburn Sports Hall so sessions can take place indoors during the colder part of the year.
Machteld DeRuyck, who runs the sessions for LS-TEN, commented: “Giving people living in Beeston a free sports activity on their doorstep has made a tremendous positive impact on people.
“This group has grown into a really tight knit community and it is an activity for all ages to enjoy and learn something new. The investment of the parents and volunteers have really shaped this session into something really special. We have donated refurbished equipment to a lot of the families and we see families practicing rollerskating together even outside of the sessions.
Learning how to rollerskate is all about learning how to fall and getting back up – which builds resilience and peer support amongst everyone learning.”
Glenn Holdsworth, Development Manager at Yorkshire Sport Foundation, commented: “The response to the sessions shows just how valued they are by the local community, so we’re delighted to support LS-TEN to help them continue throughout the winter months.
“We know the colder and shorter days can make going out and being active less appealing for people, and the cost of equipment is another barrier that mean that some activities aren’t an option for everyone.
“At Yorkshire Sport Foundation, we love working alongside organisations who provide inclusive, accessible ways for their communities to be active, and LS-TEN are a fantastic example of that.”