8-4-2 PROJECT

Based in the town centre of Scunthorpe, the 8-4-2 Project was established in 1997 by local skatEBoarders, BMX riders and Inline skaters with the help of two volunteer youth workers, to provide facilities for skating, skatEBoarding and biking for the local youth community. The project has recently been granted £5,000 from Enventure, with landfill tax credit funding from local steel company, Corus. This funding will be used to provide additional ramps within the existing park.

The need for the project was established after local authority Youth Service research and a Princes Trust Local Action Group identified a growing need for a place for young people to skate and ride safely and a problem with young people skating on the streets of North Lincolnshire

The skate park is widely used and has proven to be a tremendous success with local young people, not only through the provision of the skate park itself, but also through the level of commitment illustrated by the skate park members who have raised funds themselves through various activities, as well as already obtaining grants from the Princes Trust, SRB (Single Regeneration Budget) Funding, North Lincolnshire Council Leisure and Youth Services and The National Lottery Awards for All . The whole project is run on a voluntary basis and the skatepark is run by some of the older skaters who have been trained in first aid and youth group leadership skills as part of the scheme.

Jill Clay, a volunteer Youth Worker who has backed the project said
“ The success of the activities we feel are down to the fact that the power stays firmly with the young people and that it is their ideas that are acted upon”.

The park so far consists of a large midi ramp with ¼ pipes and a driveway but there are plans to extend the facilities to include more ¼ pipes and flatbanks along with a fun box and jump box. The total cost of the scheme is estimated at £90,000 and the 842Project still need to find another £30,000 to complete the park.

Suzanne Hudson, Evolve EB Community Grants Manager stated “by supporting projects such as this, the entire community is able to benefit from the Corus Landfill Communities Fund Funding”.