Dakota Dunes funds Haven Skate Club
This spring we expanded the Eli Kerslake Skateboard Scholarship Program to serve youth-at-risk in a more direct way by partnering with Haven Family Support.
With support from Dakota Dunes Community Development Corporation, we hosted weekly skateboard sessions with dinner and transport provided and gifted complete sets of skateboards, shoes, pads, and helmets to keep.
Haven Family Support provides intensive, in-home support to parents and children, many of whom are experiencing chronic poverty and mental health and substance use. Due to these circumstances, many of their youth clients are at risk of entering the Ministry's care or becoming involved with the criminal justice system.
Key Outcomes
Youth came out of their shells remarkably throughout the program. and We observed significant improvements in their self-confidence and sociability. Their joy was tangible each time they got to skateboard; most often, they did not want to leave at the end. Our desired outcome with any skateboard program is our research-backed belief that skateboarding alleviates mental distress and improves emotional regulation. We saw this with Haven’s youth. This group of children come from challenging home environments, and some have complex needs. Whether they came from school or home that day, we found that the unique nature of skateboarding (self-led, creative, and more accessible than team sports) gave them a feeling of self-determination, freedom to be themselves, while challenging themselves physically and receiving positive mentorship from the instructors.
Practical needs met: nutrition, transport, and equipment provided.
