A new project has been launched in East Belfast that is aimed at helping young people stay out of trouble by getting involved in extreme sports.
The Ramp House skatepark has partnered with the PSNI for the new weekly project that will see officers engage with young people using the park while also providing them with a safe space to have fun and possibly pick up a new sport.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Rob Lowey from the Ramp House said that he was very excited to be working with the local policing team on the project and that extreme sports such as BMX, skateboarding and scooters can be a brilliant way for people to make new friends and build confidence in themselves.
He said: "We have been working recently with the PSNI bringing youth groups in and it is an environment that kids aren't used to from certain areas, where they are hanging out with officers, having a slice of pizza and watching other kids ride their scooters or BMXs and it is really just a friendly, non-judgemental environment. We don't even try to teach that, it just happens when they come together from vastly different areas which they may not get the chance to do otherwise through other sports like football or rugby which can be territorial.
"It is not like that at all here because within minutes of meeting they are usually just concerned about who can do what trick and who is better than the other guy.
"Some of the kids are making best friends from all different areas where before they may not have had the chance. Kids just want to be kids and that is what they are here, kids on bikes or kids on scooters.
"It is ok talking to a kid about staying out of trouble, but kids are kids and they don't want to listen to adults, so if we can bring them in here and let them do their own thing, they are seeing a better way without being preached to. They are coming in and hanging out and their main concern and focus is not falling off.
"It is keeping them off of the streets and organically they are learning to get along with one another, and because it is a new sport to them they get genuinely stoked when one learns a new trick and they teach each other how to do it.
"It can be frightening to watch as a parent for the first time because it is new to the parents but we do have a strict safety gear policy where they have to wear helmets and pads. Every kid is going to get bumps and bruises and over the past five years we have had a few injuries here but you could get the same one as easily playing football or rugby."
Rob opened The Ramp House five years ago with his business partner Pete Moore and during that time it has grown in popularity with children coming from all over Belfast and Ireland to ride their bikes and scooters there.
Neighbourhood Inspector Pete Cunningham said: "This is a local initiative between the Ramp House and East Belfast and in essence it is about hearing youth's voice as well as giving them a safe space for us to come and listen to what their concerns are around policing in East Belfast.
"Equally it gives us a chance to share information with them on how to keep themselves safe on the streets and online as well.
"It has been really positive so far and we had really good feedback on Friday night from the first group that attended. Our expectation is that it will spread like wildfire through word of mouth among young people in East Belfast.
"Primarily though, it is about learning new skills and extreme sports, but we take a halfway point where my team comes down and speaks with the young people involved about issues they have.
"This is about building on the good work that has gone before. East Belfast is a safe place to live and work and now we are working with the next generation for them to understand what we are trying to achieve as a police service and for them to gain some confidence that we are trying to keep this place safe.
"We are partnered up with youth clubs and youth groups mainly with this project, but if you are not involved in one you can come directly to us as a neighbourhood team or via our email address."
Video by Dylan Hegarty
READ NEXT:
- Concern as used needles found in Belfast McDonald's toilets
- Belfast residents call for preventative action after '25 needles a day' found in area
- Concerns raised over drug needles near train station
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here. To sign up to our FREE newsletters, see here.
