Whitianga Skate School
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Category
Community Connection AwardTitle of initiative
Whitianga Skate SchoolA summary overview of what the initiative has achieved in 100 words.
I started a Skateboard school in Whitianga with the hope of doing 4 lessons a week at the local park for the local kids. I now have just over 60 children enrolled and growing in the last 3 months. Twenty of these children are homeschooled and come from around the peninsular as far as Whangamata. This has created a really cool community vibe at the park as families have made connections and hang out for the day together having lunch and looking after the children. The other cool thing that has happened is that out of the 60 children that have enrolled 40 of them had never skateboarded and it is a new sport to them. A lot of the parents have thanked me and suggested that they have seen massive changes in their children's confidence and happiness since starting. Also that their children had never really enjoyed sports before.How has the initiative developed/implemented met the needs of the participants in the last 12 months?
I have acquired gear for the children and provided everything that is needed. I have also got the local supermarket on board and provide food for the children every afternoon. I have also arranged and changed the classes to make sure that It meets the needs of the children based on ability and gender; we now have three girls' groups which is awesome. The girls have said how much they enjoy not skateboarding with the other boysHow has the initiative demonstrated innovation and supported community connection in the last 12 months?
I have started to do all-day Monday classes for the home school children. Originally I was just going to do afternoons; I have taken time off work to accommodate these children's needs. This has created, as a bonus, a massive community connection for these families from around the peninsular and the children. These families have now become friends and will meet and help each other during the week. As well as the children finding friends from all over the peninsula. I also had to create a mums club on a Saturday as so many mums were keen to join in. I know have 10 Mums who do the lessons and love connecting and doing something fun and active together.What is unique about the approach to community connection in sport and active recreation in the last 12 months?
There has never been a skate school in the coromandel, and I have created the first one. The response has been amazing so far, and I have been thanked and told how amazing this is for the children and the community multiple times.How has the approach benefitted the community in the last 12 months?
It has benefited the community on multiple levels. From physical to mental well-being. Connection with peers (parents and children). New sport option that's not team-based. Very cheap lessons and gear provide for everyone to enjoy. Providing food for the children, fruit, and biscuits.What are some of the results and/or growth of the initiative in the last 12 months?
I have doubled my roll in three months and am looking to stop my other job to accommodate those showing more interest. We now have Mum's classes and home school groups. Multiple children have learned the basics of a skateboard, and some are even becoming advanced, learning new tricks every week. I think the biggest thing, though, is the confidence in the children growing weekly. These Kids are amazing, and I feel blessed to be able to provide them with some knowledge of a sport I love so much. This sport teaches you more than skateboarding is about learning to fall and get back up, creating resilience and a long-lasting connection with enjoying something physical and challenging that can never be mastered. That is endless in creativity and can't be boxed into one thing; children have shown that they enjoy this aspect as they try new things and use their skateboards in many different ways.Comments
Impressed bystander (Posted 2022-08-16 07:04:12)
As someone who happens past the skatepark on the daily and witnessed Sean's initiative in action, This has totally invigorated the tone of our skate park for the absolute better. Personally I think the Outstanding Active Space Initiative and the Youth Engagement awards should be considered here too.
Happy Parent (Posted 2022-08-15 19:35:28)
In support of Whitianga Skate School I wanted to share how much my teenage daughter loves learning to skate. She is mastering new skills, over coming challenges, feeling empowered and making new friends. Her improvement over 3 months is amazing. We are so lucky to have Sean delivering this in Whitianga.
Mr (Posted 2022-08-15 19:19:05)
Sean is going a great job with his skate school. I have seen the growth in my own nephew, whom has some mild learning and speech difficulties. When you see a child succeed it really opens there world. Sean with his positive encouragement and support is the driver behind each participant reaching those levels of personnel succes and growth. This programme that Sean runs has to be one the greatest active participation programs I have seen. Not only is he getting participants on skatebaords, scooters, he is getting people active and smiling.