Aup!
We're Donny Skate Co-op, a collective of skateboarders, who took over Twisted Skatepark in March 2023
OUR STORY
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Twisted Skatepark was built in 2020 by a businessman who saw a gap in the market and thought he'd have a crack at it. We (Emma and Lewis) were users of the park since the first day it opened, and we ​​had always talked about how we would run it differently if it was us behind the wheels. No one that worked there skated or knew anything about the culture, there was never a skate shop or a properly functioning café, or even a place to buy a bottle of water.
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It took a couple of years before the park was put up for sale. At the time we didn't give it much thought, other than being bummed out that we'd have to travel to Sheffield if we wanted to skate indoors when the weather was crap. Then, one night, jokes were made about how we should buy it. But there was no way, right? We could barely afford our rent, let alone a whole skatepark.
We were reminded that we were adults now, who could get business loans and stuff. We started doing our research, and reassurance and belief started coming in from people we believed to know what they're on about. We got some friends together, and started to look into how our newly formed company, Doncaster Skate Co-Operative, could begin raising the funds we needed, which seemed an impossible task. We went through endless companies, each getting dodgier and dodgier, to see if we could get a loan to complete the buy out. It started seeming less and less likely.
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We ended up approaching A Commune in the North and seeing if they would be able to lend us the money, and with theirs and their huge network of people who could see the vision, we were able to raise the funds and complete the takeover and secure the future of Doncaster's only indoor skate park. We met in the Yorkshire Grey pub, signed the paper, were handed the keys and suddenly our little company now owned Twisted Skatepark.
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It was the dream we never even knew we had the chance of having, and it wouldn't have happened without the help of wide network and community of people offering us advice, guidance and support ( big shout out here to Bentley Urban Farm and all its people!).
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Then we had to actually run the company, and deal with the skeletons and all the hidden debts left behind by the previous owner. None of us had done anything like this before - Lewis was a painter and decorator, Emma was a self employed artist, Ryan was figuring life out and David worked at Starbucks. Cath was the most qualified of us all, having spent many of her working years setting up co operatives around the country and helping them deal with their own skeletons. It was intimidating for all of us to take on a building of this size, with a never ending list of work to be done alongside trying to run the skatepark, build a skate shop, café, clear and renovate multiple rooms and bring some love to the dusty old building.
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When we first took over, there was nothing but a reception desk, some ramps in a big old warehouse and the few bits of equipment left over from the café attempt, including old oil in the fryer and half a fish in a bag. Everything was yellow, grey and cold.
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Our team in the beginning
From left to right:
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Ryan
David
Cath
Lewis
Emma
Over time, we started getting used to running everything. Our community was growing, word was getting out that Twisted was now DSC, and finally ran by people apart of the culture.
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Alongside growing our shop, we opened the café up properly, started an urban farm and growing project, built a mini ramp, got flooded, took apart the mini ramp, rebuilt it upstairs, threw jams and community events, hosted music nights and gigs and set up a space for up bands to rehearse in. We have so many upcoming plans, from building an outside DIY to cleaning up our rivers and getting out into our communities to give everyone a chance to try skateboarding.
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Our team has changed a bit over time, and we're no longer the original 5 we started with. Sometimes you have to do something to know its not for you, and Ryan and David wanted to pursue different paths. We wouldn't be where we are today without all of our original members hard work, and we're very grateful for what they put in!
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Now its Lewis, Emma, Cath as the remaining members of the co-op, and Ryan does most of the incredible artwork you'll see growing steadily around the park whilst learning how to tattoo and working towards opening his own studio at the park soon!
We have a passion for seeing the community (and garden) grow and thrive. We love skateboarding so much, and we really, really love how it can bring so many different people together and how great it can be for mental and physical health, except from the falling part of it. We've seen and experienced some of the best and worst things about the community, and know how intimidating it can be for any beginner, especially anyone on the female side of the spectrum, for queer people, or basically anyone that's not a guy. That's not saying its not hard for you guys - it is and we know it. That's why we always want to make sure anyone skating in our park feels safe, comfortable and like its inclusive for everyone, regardless of ability.
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Come down, get to know us and have a skate with our team!
A little snapshot of our park
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Filmed by Pati
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@patisphotos on Instagram
Meet The Team
lewis
he / him
Big passion for skateboarding and will happily talk about it all day. Always cooking up a new idea for something to build and skate in the park. Can I go skate now please?
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Current set up: back to the 8.75 Krooked Team Eyes deck, Venture hollows, Spitfire formula fours and Thunder hardware & bushings.
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cath
she / her
Co-operative genius, community builder, communard at a Commune In The North and all round radical person. Numbers are her friend, missing receipts are not. Has stood on a skateboard once before. Likes to pretend she's working when in reality she's probably playing candy crush.
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emma
she / her
Gardener, grower and maker of things. Likes getting the jigsaw out to cut wood at inappropriate times. Can be found either skating the ledge or avoiding working on flatground tricks
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Current set up: 8.5 There Marbie Deck, venture trucks, 60mm OJ wheels and random hardware from jars
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Grant
he / him
Can usually be found sketching something on a post it note or eating all the bagels. Good luck even finding them in their camo jacket - you'll need to, as he'll be doing all the waiver form checking and booking in if you show up for a weekend session.
calcifer
me / meow
A lucky sighting, but doing a real good job of mouse patrol. Likes sleeping all day and most of the night too.