An extreme sports business in Swindon is overcoming obstacles to continue inspiring children to skate.

ATBShop has hosted 36 free outdoor community events for budding skateboarders and scooters since being forced to close its indoor skate warehouse last year due to rising costs.

The projects are funded by sales of mountainboarding equipment from a new store based in Westmead, with the business having been managed by husband and wife Stuart and Diana Kirk since 2000.

Mrs Kirk, 41, said: “Running ATBShop has been one hell of a ride, with this being the shop’s fourth move since Stuart started the business from his bedroom 24 years ago.

“We are only able to host these events thanks to the people spending in our shop, so they are really a big thank you to anyone who has helped us over the years.”

Events had previously been held at ATBShop’s own skate park since 2012. But with the prospect of necessary roof repairs costing up to £100,000 compounded by rising business rates, the park closed its doors for good in December 2023.

On the closure, Diana said: “It was really sad watching the skate park go and it absolutely broke us. Over 11 years we built up lots of memories there, from all-nighters to appearances from celebrities such as the singer Tom Walker.

“We only asked for £5 -10 from people looking to use the park and we didn’t want to have to charge anymore.”

The shop has been able to continue its community involvement despite the move, with scooter and skate workshops being held across Oxford, Swindon and Wiltshire.

1,920 children at St Luke's Academy were able to benefit from ATBShop’s collaboration with the Swindon Borough Council via a holiday camp this summer that included free meals.

Diana says: “Lots of people have thought that since closing the skate park down, our shop has closed permanently. Thanks to running these events we’ve been able to show people that this isn’t the case!”

The move to a showroom with much smaller storage space means the shop is offering major discounts on a variety of extreme sports equipment in the run-up to Christmas.

The store was also recently struck by a random act of kindness with an anonymous customer donating £150 to cover the outstanding payments of a mum who had purchased her child a skateboard.

And with the shop celebrating its 25th anniversary next year, Diana is encouraging locals to keep their eyes peeled for upcoming celebrations.

“We are renowned for our parties here, so we will be organising one big day-long celebration, as well as lots of free outdoor events throughout the summer.”

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