The DISCO Initiative

1. What Is The DISCO Initiative?

DISCO (Diversity in Skate Coaching Opportunities) is Skateboard GB’s commitment to helping more people from marginalised communities and/or backgrounds become qualified skate coaches.

We’re offering a number of fully funded places on both our Get Rolling and Coaching Skills courses. We want to support people to take that next step without having to break the bank.

This is for people who’ve often been left out of the coaching conversation:

 

  • People of the global majority
  • Those living with disabilities
  • Trans and non-binary folks
  • Rural, young and financially struggling coaches

2. Why Is Disco The Approach?

We’ve seen too many one-off events and short-lived schemes that make a good photo, then disappear. That’s not what this is. DISCO isn’t a gimmick. It isn’t about making us look good. It’s about changing the face of skate coaching in the UK. That starts with who’s in the room, who’s leading sessions, and whose voices are heard.

Representation matters. We want to help build a more welcoming and inclusive coaching community that reflects the real diversity of skateboarding today.

3. Where Did The Name Come From?

We borrowed the name from the disco movement of the 1970s. Not just because it sounds good, but because of what disco stood for. Before disco went mainstream, it was built in underground clubs by Black, Latinx, and LGBTQIA+ communities, especially trans women. They were creating space for joy, safety, and visibility in a world that often kept them out. That’s the energy we want to bring into skate coaching. This is not about spectacle or tokenism. It is about people making space for each other.

Our offer extends to include potential coaches who may be facing financial barriers to participation. We recognise the potential that exists among the skateboarding community in the UK, and seek to offer more opportunities for skaters to share their passion and knowledge with the next generation.

4. How It Works

If you’re someone who wants to coach, or you know someone who should, there are two ways to get involved:

 

  • Apply yourself
  • Nominate someone from your community, skatepark, or group

 

You can do both using the form linked below.

If the form doesn’t work for you, you can also apply by sending a video or voice note. We’ll match successful applicants with a course near them and keep in touch every step of the way.

5. Who Gets Priority?

Our priority is to reflect the real diversity of skateboarding today. Applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, with our focus being on the following groups:

 

  • Trans, non-binary and LGBTQIA+ skaters
  • People of colour
  • Skaters living with disabilities
  • Skaters facing financial barriers

6. We Know This Won't Fix Everything

We’re not pretending that DISCO will solve everything overnight. But it is a start. A small and practical step that helps more people take up space in places they already belong. We will keep learning, keep adapting, and keep pushing for change.

Because coaching should be for everyone.

Click the link below to apply yourself or to nominate somebody from your community, skatepark or group.

APPLY OR NOMINATE HERE

Have Questions? Want To Chat It Through?

You can drop us a message or email [email protected] if you’d prefer to talk it through rather than fill out a form. We get it.