Key Points
- Money taken from criminals in North Wales has helped pay for an indoor skateboarding workshop for children between five and twelve years old.
- The session was held at Bangor University’s Canolfan Brailsford. Was made possible by a £250 grant from the North Wales Police and Community Trust also known as PACT.
- I watched as Bangor skateboarder Tom Butler, who runs the On ya Board community project led the workshop.
- PACT is a charity that has helped than 2,500 projects since 1998.
- Police Community Support Officer Julie Broadhead was the one who submitted the funding application.
- Mr Butler also received a £2,000 grant from PACT earlier this year to run workshops in schools and community centres.
- Mr Butler runs sessions in Beaumaris and Felinheli and he also offers holiday classes, in Bangor and Holyhead.
- The project also teaches children how to design and build skateboards from materials.
- PACT chair Ashley Rogers said that the funding shows how assets taken from activity can be reinvested in local communities.
Bangor (Wales Times) November 05, 2026 – Money seized from criminals in North Wales has been used to give children the chance to try skateboarding for free at an indoor workshop in uk/local/bangor/">Bangor. The session, held at Bangor University’s Canolfan Brailsford, was funded by the North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT) and aimed at children aged five to 12.
As reported by the North Wales Chronicle, the workshop was led by Tom Butler, a skateboarder from Bangor who runs the On ya Board community project. Mr Butler has spent three years introducing children to skateboarding and said the PACT funding helps remove barriers to taking part.
How did seized criminal money fund the workshop?
The skateboarding session received a £250 grant from PACT, a charity that supports community initiatives using money and property seized through criminal investigations. According to the North Wales Chronicle, PACT has supported more than 2,500 projects since it was established in 1998.
The application for the grant was made by Police Community Support Officer Julie Broadhead. The funding enabled children to learn skateboarding in an indoor space, an important provision given the limited skateboarding facilities across North Wales.
Mr Butler said: “Having the funding from PACT is so helpful because I really don’t want there to be any barriers to skateboarding.” He added that a session of this kind gives children the opportunity to learn how to skateboard indoors.
What happens at the On ya Board workshops?
The Bangor session formed part of Mr Butler’s wider On ya Board programme. Earlier this year, he received a separate £2,000 grant from PACT’s main fund to deliver workshops in schools and community centres.
He currently runs weekly skateboarding sessions in Beaumaris and Felinheli, as well as holiday classes in Bangor and Holyhead. The project also encourages children to design and build their own skateboards using recycled materials.
Mr Butler said: “There are no skateboard shops at all in North Wales, and no indoor skateparks.” He said his aim is to fill that gap for people who know little about skateboarding and want to meet others involved in the sport.
What did police and PACT say?
Ashley Rogers, chair of PACT, described the session as a clear example of how money seized from criminal activity can benefit communities. As reported by the North Wales Chronicle, Mr Rogers said the event had been well attended and had attracted a good mix of children.
Mr Rogers said: “This session is being funded by cash and property seized from criminals, so it is great to know it is being put to such good use and reinvested within our communities across North Wales.” He added that children appeared to be enjoying learning new skills and being active.
PCSO Julie Broadhead said the session had been a success. She said: “We’ve had a great response from the kids and the session has gone really well.” She noted that children were making new friends, building confidence and learning to use ramps.
What did parents say about the session?
Parents who attended also welcomed the initiative. Lee Duggan, from Tregarth, said her 11-year-old son, Rupert Cooper, had grown in confidence since joining the skateboarding sessions.
Ms Duggan said:
“Now Roo is helping other kids with their skateboarding, it’s brilliant to see.”
Her comments were reported by the North Wales Chronicle as part of its coverage of the funded workshop.
Background of the development
PACT is the North Wales Police and Community Trust, a charity that channels money and property seized from criminal activity into community projects. Since 1998, it has supported more than 2,500 initiatives across the region.
The skateboarding workshop is part of a broader effort to make sport and creative activities more accessible to children in North Wales. On ya Board addresses a local gap in provision: Mr Butler said there are no skateboard shops and no indoor skateparks in North Wales.
The project combines physical activity with practical skills, including designing and building skateboards from recycled materials. It also provides regular sessions in Beaumaris and Felinheli, alongside holiday provision in Bangor and Holyhead.
Prediction: How could this affect North Wales families?
For families in North Wales, the development could make skateboarding more accessible to children who might otherwise face cost, travel or facility barriers. Free indoor sessions may be particularly valuable during poor weather and in areas without dedicated skateparks.
If PACT continues to fund similar projects, children could gain greater access to structured physical activity, new friendships and confidence-building opportunities. The scheme may also encourage more community-led sports provision in towns such as Bangor, Beaumaris, Felinheli and Holyhead.
For local organisers, the case demonstrates that assets recovered from crime can be redirected into preventive, community-based activity. However, the wider effect will depend on future grant availability and whether projects such as On ya Board can secure continued funding beyond individual sessions.
