Sk8Side Ashford

07/08/2025

OPEN FOR SALES!!!!
Saturday 9th and 16th August 12.00-4.00
And Monday 11th - Friday 15th August 2.00-6.00 🤘🛹😊

24/07/2025

This Saturday, come down to sk8side 12-4 and grab a bargain!!!

17/07/2025

There is another sale on Saturday 12-4
This time we also have motorbike riding gear and bike jumble.

30/06/2025

Sk8side Closing Down Sale

Our first sales day is this
Saturday 12.00-4.00!

There will be, secondhand boards, PPE, arts & sports equipment, plus furniture, available to buy.
Please head down this Saturday 😊

27/06/2025

27/06/2025

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live:bbc_radio_kent?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

Click the link to go to BBC Sounds app and listen to the interviews about Sk8side this morning.
Timestamps: from 7am Deirdre's full interview
8:08am Liz Wright's full interview and at 8:14am telephone interview with parent Emma Dowsett. Please stick with this one as the connection was lost at the beginning.

26/06/2025

Deirdre and Councillor Liz Wright have been interviewed for BBC Radio this morning about Sk8side. The interviews will be broadcast tomorrow morning on BBC Radio Kent between 7 - 10. Different segments may be used over the course of the show so we recommend listening to the whole programme to hear it all.

Video clips were filmed as well which may be added to the BBC site at some point. We will share more about this when we know.

25/06/2025

Deirdre says: one for you Maria

20/06/2025

From Deirdre 👇

Be great to see as many of you as we can

12/06/2025

Hi everyone

Thanks so much for so many lovely comments. It is heartwarming to see how much we have been appreciated and will be missed.

However, there have been a number of comments which express misconceptions about our funding and how / why we have reached this decision.

We have not been funded by the government of Kent County Council. We have been receiving some support from Ashford Borough Council.

Since 2012 we have been an independent company registered as Sk8side Community Interest Company. Up to summer 2018 we were funded by KCC but gave up the contract due to the targets we were expected to achieve. In 2018 ABC agreed to let us have the Pavilion building for a peppercorn rate plus £30,000 a year. Sadly from 2022 this figure has been reduced to £10,000 p.a.

In order to run the service that we have been delivering from the Sk8side building and in Tenterden we have had to raise £90,000+ a year. This has been achieved through annual contracts with Tenterden Town Council (£20,000) and ABC (£10,000). This shortfall has been raised through a number of grants from local and national bodies. However, this has become harder and harder as many more organisations are applying for the same pots.

I know some people have been kindly suggesting things such as GoFundMe. Trust me – we have tried all these routes. Earlier this year The Mayor and one of our old members undertook a Skydive on our behalf. After a great deal of promotion and hard work they managed to raise £5000. I, personally, do not think we would get the kind of support we would need and still be living hand to mouth every month to pay the staff wages.

The situation had become so difficult that I, as fulltime Project Manager, have had to work unpaid for the last year.

I hope this clarifies the situation and, once again, thanks for your support.

Deirdre

Director / Project Manager

04/06/2025

Message from Deirdre:

It is with great regret and sadness that I have to announce that – due to lack of funding – Sk8side CIC will be ceasing delivery of its’ services at the end of June. This means we will no longer be running the club by the skate park or any outreach services.