Charity Bank borrower, Adrenaline Alley, recently celebrated the Olympic success of two of their members. In this blog we explore the extraordinary story behind Europe’s largest action sports centre…
Founder and Development Director of Adrenaline Alley, Mandy Young, was inspired to create a safe place to skate for local kids after her 14-year-old son, John, was attacked in the street for carrying a skateboard.
Adrenaline Alley started out as an outdoor skatepark, which although good, lacked the sustainability the social enterprise knew they needed to grow. With the help of a Charity Bank loan, Adrenaline Alley were able to purchase their current six-acre site and answer the growing demand for their services.
Aside from their spectacular multi-complex of over 120,000 sq ft of ramps, the social enterprise provides additional activities for children and young people, offering everything from training clubs and 1-2-1 coaching to film and art projects. Adrenaline Alley also provides fantastic volunteer and work opportunities.
The centre recently celebrated the Olympic success of two of their members. Both gold medallist, Charlotte Worthington, and bronze medallist, Declan Brooks, train at Adrenaline Alley and name the centre as having a huge part to play in their achievements.
Despite the challenges faced by the centre last year, this outstanding result goes to show how crucial centres like Adrenaline Alley are to those practising action sports.
“Without the Charity Bank loan, we would not have been able to grow and develop in the same way. Owning the site has given us the freedom to quickly adapt to trends, which is vital within the action sports industry.”
Mandy Young Founder and Development Director Adrenaline Alley
Hear more from Mandy Young and the Olympians themselves in this video:
Video source: Pioneers Post, you can read their full article here.
About Charity Bank
Charity Bank is the loans and savings bank owned by and committed to supporting the social sector. Since 2002, we have used our savers’ money to make more than 1,000 loans totalling over £350m to housing, education, social care, community and other social purpose organisations.
Nothing in this article constitutes an invitation to engage in investment activity nor is it advice or a recommendation and professional advice should be taken before any course of action is pursued.