Skateboarder, 10, says he 'feels free' when riding

A 10-year-old skateboarder said the sport allowed him to "feel free".

About 22 young people visited The Warehouse Indoor Skatepark in Cambridge on Thursday during the May half-term, to take part in its skate camp.

The skatepark opened in October 2024 and is run by Cam Skate, a community interest company which calls it a "skatepark run by the community, for the community".

Jacob, from Cambridge, who goes by Bobby at the skatepark, said: "It makes me feel free and there's no boundaries."

"There's a lot of people that look up to me because I'm seen as a good example."

Bobby started the sport when the park opened. He said: "I had this skateboard that I never really used.

"I just started rolling down ramps and that just got me into it, and I had a lot of coaching, and now I can do tricks.

"People kind of call me a 'park rat' because I only really skate in here and everyone really knows me."

Bobby's mum, Rochelle, 36, said the site was a "safe environment" for her son.

"He is comfortable to test his boundaries and if he does fall or get hurt, he feels comfortable to recover from that," the mother-of-two said.

"He struggled previously with social acceptance. He tried different things but nothing stuck.

"Having the skateboarding is an outlet for him and that comfortable space... and everyone is just so happy and they praise each other when they do good."

Bobby is one of six children who were given a bursary to attend the session through the Department for Education's Holiday Activities and Food Programme.

Rochelle said the bursary came at a time when her family was "struggling".

Paul Elbro, one of the directors of Cam Skate, said the site was made to be inclusive.

"We have kids who come regularly and treat it like a safe space, and we have a pool table, they skate, and I think a lot of them are very comfortable."

Elbro said the building, which is located near the Beehive Centre, had been provided on lease for free since the skatepark opened.

He said it allowed it to keep entry fees at £5, with some of that money going towards funding places for young people.

"It allows us to offer free places on our after-school club or holiday camps for kids from disadvantaged backgrounds," he added.

Grace was another skater enjoying her time at the camp.

The eight-year-old said: "I enjoy it because you meet lots of friends.

"You get to learn new tricks, and there's lots of nice people."

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