Chris Lawton joins Skateboard GB in a ground-breaking new role

Chris Lawton, K-Grind in Nottingham. Pic: Mike Kane

Skateboard GB are happy to announce the appointment of Chris Lawton as Skateboard Community Development Officer.

Chris is well respected, holding many years’ experience within skateboarding and is a real advocate for using skateboarding and physical space to transform the UK’s towns and cities. He has helped with the development of Lady Bay Skatepark and Radcliffe Skatepark, also leading discussions at the last “Pushing Boarders” event and helped re-invent Nottingham to become a skateboarding hotspot.

The aim of the role starting in February is to work with the skateboard community, landowners and local authorities to manage and deliver the provision of a number of skateable spaces in urban areas. This is in addition to creating resources and initiatives to support skateparks, coaches and the wider community to prepare for the increased interest in skateboarding that there will be after the Olympic Games in the summer of 2021.

James Hope-Gill, CEO of Skateboard GB said “We’re absolutely delighted to make this announcement today. Chris brings a wealth of experience and will be a great asset to Skateboard GB as we look to support the skateboarding community.”

Chris commented on his recent appointment “I am thrilled to be joining the Skateboard GB team in this new position. The role presents a unique opportunity to support skateboarding in England. I’ve spent my career working in regeneration, urban development and education, alongside being a massive skate geek.  I strongly believe we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to join-up the potential of the Olympics with the challenges of recovering from Covid19 to positively transform our towns and cities and the life-chances for young people and adults, harnessing skateboarding’s incredible energy to make those changes whilst building sustainable grassroots capacity to do more cool stuff across the country.”