At this year’s festival, Bradley Stoke Town Council’s (BSTC’s) youth workers and local young people are delighted to once again be hosting a popular two-day package. The mix of skate park skills and creative arts will include competitions, demonstrations, and ‘have-a-go’ sessions spread over the main Community Festival site at the Jubilee Centre (on Saturday 4th June) and at the skate park (on Sunday 5th June).
Saturday 4th June
The Jubilee Green side of the festival site will host a skate park half-pipe alongside street art sessions, as well as information on other BSTC youth work projects.
The ever-popular street art ‘have-a-go’ painting sessions return, with artist (Olas Art) working alongside youth workers and young volunteers. At previous festivals these sessions have proved very popular with children and young people; in fact, at the last festival (2019), over 60 individual pieces of artwork were created and proudly carried home and our youth workers often hear that boards are still on display years later.
Once again, the skate park half-pipe will offer the chance to see some exceptional skate park demonstrations by top BMX, scooter and skateboard pro riders and skaters, as well as regular ‘have-a-go’ sessions (with some equipment provided), music and an MC.
At the youth work tent, there will be the chance to find out about and discuss other Bradley Stoke youth work sessions, projects and developments, as well as signing up for Sunday’s skate park competition.
Sunday 5th June
The return of the Festival Skate Park Competition features a mix of competitions in all skate park disciplines, interspersed with more pro rider demos, music, a circus skills workshop (popular with younger attendees) and much more.
The portable half-pipe will be relocated alongside the skate park to provide extra capacity and there will be competitions for scooter, BMX and skateboards.
The Sunday competition will run between 1pm and 5pm with registration between 11am and 12.30pm (but please try to get entry forms in before the day as it will greatly help with planning*).
* You can hand in your completed form at the Bradley Stoke Town Council office, Jubilee Centre, Savages Wood Road (9am – 5pm), hand it to a youth worker, or hand it in on Saturday 4th June at the skate ramp demo on Jubilee Green.
General information, including event poster/flier, competition entry and consent forms and the planned running order of the day will be posted on the Bradley Stoke Town Council website (see Bradley Stoke Skatepark & Festival) and on @bradleystokeskatepark Instagram or Facebook.
There will be separate competitions for BMX & skateboards with the following categories: 12 years old & younger; 13 to 16 years and 17+ years (and sponsored riders). However, within the scooter competitions there is a slight change to the age groups, with competitions for 12 years old & younger, 13 to 15 years and 16+ years (and sponsored riders).
There is a £3 entrance fee for each competition with an array of prizes to be won.
Wearing appropriate helmets is compulsory and a limited number will be available to loan.
All are welcome to both days, so come along and be amazed by some of the skills and talents of local young people, both as competitors and organisers.
Young people’s involvement in planning and organising the festival is supported by Bradley Stoke Town Council’s youth workers. If you are a young person living in the Bradley Stoke area and aged 11 to 19 who would like to find out about our other youth work sessions and projects, or would like to get involved as a young person or volunteer, please contact the youth development & participation worker on 07900 253826 or email graham.baker@bradleystoke.gov.uk
More information and related links:
- Skate Park Competition Entry and Consent Form [PDF] (BSTC)
- Bradley Stoke Community Festival, 3rd-5th June 2022 (The Journal)
- What’s On in Bradley Stoke (The Journal)
This article originally appeared in the May 2022 issue of the Bradley Stoke Journal magazine (on page 19).
