Everyone on Boards for active travel

A pioneering project to help young people improve their skateboarding skills is going from strength to strength with support from the Council’s Community Walking & Cycling Fund.

Everyone on Boards is a community led, not-for-profit group, founded in 2020 by Agnieszka Aga Wood. It runs a range of skateboard lessons for 5 to 16-year-olds at two local skateparks with the aim of empowering as many people as possible to enjoy and benefit from the sport.

Everyone on Boards has received more than £1,000 from this year’s Community Walking & Cycling Fund, which has helped expand the project to reach even more young people.

Aga explains: “It has really helped us with the outreach side of things, connecting with people who might not otherwise get the chance to try skateboarding.

“It requires less equipment than some other activities, but there is still a cost involved, and for many people, even a relatively low barrier to entry is enough to prevent some from trying. We really want everyone to feel that it is something they can get involved with.”

Everyone on Boards has been hugely successful in expanding over the last few years with the support of the Council, seeing a 30% increase in participation overall, and an amazing 70% increase in the number of girls attending the activities.

Aga continues: “We want current and future generations of young people to enjoy outdoor activities, which help build confidence and social skills.

“It also challenges people mentally and physically, and I hope it helps encourage them to make positive decisions that benefit the wider community.

“It’s also really important to encourage more girls to take an active part in skateboarding regardless of background.”

Now in its fifth year, the Community Walking & Cycling Fund has helped more than 2,500 residents get involved with a range of active travel projects. This year, the nine unique projects offering a huge range of free, social activities to local people throughout the summer have received grants of up to £3,000 each.

Alongside Everyone on Boards, projects include Age UK Waltham Forest, which runs cycle training for those aged 60 and over. It also includes wellbeing walks with Life After Cancer; bike rides around the borough for local women, courtesy of Cycle Sisters; and JoyRiders Britain CIC, which offers summer cycling opportunities for families.

There’s also JP Fix and Ride, offering DIY bike maintenance courses in Leytonstone and Chingford; CarryMe Bikes CIC, a family cycling equipment lending library; weekly bike rides from Salaam Peace and finally, ‘The Walking Project,’ courtesy of Can Hall Can.

Councillor Clyde Loakes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate said: “We want to help local people to do much more walking and cycling, and in the case of the brilliant Everyone on Boards, skateboarding too – which is why we are providing vital support to a range of amazing organisations across the borough. 

“The initiative is playing such a brilliant role in giving young people a platform to develop their skills on a skateboard, improve their health and fitness, and build their confidence.

“Working with these local groups helps the Council reach far more people and the small grants provided by the Fund provide support to more of our residents to discover the enjoyment and benefits of a more active lifestyle.

“Replacing short-based car journeys with active ways of getting around, can help us tackle some of the serious health and well-being challenges many people face due to inactivity, loneliness, and poor air quality. 

“It is also vital as we look to reduce the amount of cars on local roads, improve our air quality and work towards achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030.”