The Sk8 Safe™ Programme started out in 2007 as a simple concept: teach children to skateboard. Not an original concept we grant, but in an activity often misunderstood and frowned upon, a concept for which there was clearly a huge need going unfulfilled. Sk8 Safe™ Founder Sarah Agar, in her former guise as owner of Popcorn Skate Shop in Northallerton came to recognise that while skateboarding was popular in the area there was no formal, recognised or safety concious method for the youngsters of the area to try skateboarding, see if it was something they'd wish to persue. The aim at the time was clear: to sell more skateboards, there had to be a way to teach skateboarding so that people could try it, and three kit bags, three ramps and a set of decks later the first ever Sk8 Safe™ class was born.

The class went from strength to strength and was certainly good for business, but more than that - it was clearly good for the participants. Skateboarding, an activity without formal structure, without competition, without the need to strive to 'win' was a sport that spoke to some children in a way that traditional team sports did not and could not. As Sk8 Safe™ expanded and Sarah started to work with local authorities on after school and lunch time and even curriculum based classes she started to see some truly remarkable results; children labelled as problem children would not only take to the skateboarding classes with enthusiasm and gusto, they'd also behave better at school itself as a result of the introduction of an alternative sport to which they could relate!

Thus, the Sk8 Safe™ Programme was born. Over the last three years the Skate Safe™ Team have worked extensively with the local Skate community in Northallerton to demystify skateboarding both for the young and the old while maintaining the same spirit and ethos from which such remarkable early results were achieved. Indeed, the team were not interested in trying to redefine skateboarding as something it is not, but rather communicating to the World exactly what makes so many people so passionate about the activity. With a base of instructors taken from some of the top skateboarders in North Yorkshire Sk8 Safe™ was up and running, and we're now ready to show the results to the World!

Introducing the team...

	Sarah Agar My passion for skateboarding didn't begin in the conventioal way as I wasn't exposed to the sport growing up. I opened Popcorn Skate in 2001 in Northallerton with my husband (an ex skater) and I fell in love with it. From there I have been an avid fan. My first skate shoes were a pair of Mullen S3's at the ripe age of 29. I stayed loyal to Globe for years but more recently you find me in Vans. I love nothing more than organising a comp at my local park and seeing our guys and all our skate school kids come along and skate the park I learnt to skate 4 years ago (thank you Blythe for your patience!) and now you see me teaching the beginners class. I love everything about this sport. It brings people from any background and any culture together and unites them peacefully in a way I have never seen anything else do. Sk8 Safe™ was born out of my passion for the sport and to enable children from any walk of life to try something previously only those confident enough could do. I only got that opportunity at 33, now other kids can do it as young as 5. I am very grateful for this wonderful job with great people.
	Stephen Blythe I've been skateboarding for ten years thanks to my Grandma (rest in peace). My Grandma really gave me the spark to start skateboarding - my grandparents always took me all over the place and always encouraged me to do well. At the moment I'm riding a Popcorn Skate team deck size 8.25. Some people say it's like skating a door but I like em wide! I've trusted Zero for years now and always skate their wheels. I skate Thunder trucks - nice and wide and basically nothing to go wrong with them. People I have looked up to are Jay Adams, Lizard King, anyone that loves bowls.
	Rob Owens I've been skating for 9 years and have always looked up to Chris Haslam and Rodney Mullen - it's a tough call, but for that reason I'd call Almost my favourite brand. My favourite trick's the Crooked Hard Flip out. I grew up skating a curb pretty much and I do it for fun!
	Stevie Donaldson I've been skating for 9 years. I've been lucky enough to enter competitions and skate parks all over the UK. Born and still living in Bedale I'm inspired by David Gravette and my favourite trick is the Indy. Love Spitfire wheels and clothing!
	Ryan Swain I always skate UK brands as I believe we have a fantastic skateboarding scene. I always ride Vans Shoes, skate an 8 inch or 8.25 deck, always shred Independent trucks and always skate 54mm wheels. My style of skateboarding is focused on creative aspects inspired from my idols at Death Skateboards. At a skatepark you would normally find me shredding mini ramp or vert but I also have a passion for 360 flips, switch and nollie 360 flips. I am well known on the scene for organising & presenting events & jams across the UK. I am always attending local gigs and showing support to my local music scene. Being on the Popcorn and Sk8 Safe™ team has completely changed the way I look and feel about skateboarding and could be quite possibly the best thing that's happened to me through out all the years I have been riding.
	Ben Livesey I've been skating for 10 years and am passionate about the local Skate scene in Thirsk and have recently been involved with the process for the creation of the new Thirsk8 Park, which is due to commence construction soon. I love Vans shoes and my favourite trick is the Crooked Shuv Out. I'm greatly inspired by Dennis Busenitz