“Not just for men”: Sheffield skatepark wheels out new initiative to become more inclusive
By Jack Lister
March 14, 2022

The House Skatepark in Sheffield is running exclusive skateboarding evenings each month to encourage women and people who belong to minority genders to try the sport.

The event, termed the “Minority Genders Night” is for anyone who isn’t a cisgender man and occurs on the last Saturday of each month.

House Skatepark “New Wave” event.

The owner of the House Skatepark, Rob Bannister, said: “It was nice being anti-establishment, but these days we’re really not.”

Having first opened its doors back in 1998, the skate park, based in Neepsend, has been expanding as skateboarding has boomed in popularity.

WATCH: Inside access to the House Skatepark, credit Cici Chow and Ailish Douglas.

“New Wave” poster for Minority Genders

Mr Bannister added: “People come back to us years later, and they say ‘yeah I was on quite a dark path, but you guys showed me that it was cool to have a job and education isn’t for idiots’”.

The skatepark is viewed by many as an important pillar of the community as it continues become an inclusive outlet.

Skateboarder Jake Thompson said: “It’s a massive stress reliever and it just brings me to loads of different people.”

More information on the Minority Genders Night can be found here.