Hastings Campaigner Says Skateboarding Helps Tackle Loneliness

A youth worker from Hastings says skateboarding plays a vital role in supporting young men's mental health and reducing feelings of loneliness.

Matt Davey, who has been skateboarding since the late 1980s, founded the project Head On Board after experiencing his own mental health struggles and witnessing their impact on young people in the local skateboarding community.

"As a youth worker, I've attended four funerals of young people who took their own lives," Davey shared. "They talk about it in the media as a tsunami, and it's true."

Davey believes skateboarding offers more than just physical activity.

"It's like being part of a club where everyone is welcome," he told Politics South East.

"It doesn't matter about age, gender, or religion. It's intergenerational and one of the most inclusive activities I can think of. And compared to many hobbies, it's quite affordable."

At the Source Underground skatepark in Hastings, teenagers regularly gather to skate, practice tricks, and spend time with friends.

For many, the skatepark provides a space to relax and escape the pressures of school and daily life.

Through Head On Board, Davey organizes charity events and workshops to support young people and raise awareness about mental health.

He has also provided mental health first aid training to young people, enabling them to recognize signs if a friend is in distress.

Research from Sport England indicates that one in four boys and young men aged 11 to 24 feel lonely at least some of the time.

The government has stated that positive spaces such as sports clubs and youth centres can help combat isolation and improve wellbeing.

Ministers have launched a campaign encouraging young men to participate in sports and feel part of a community.

• If you, or someone you know, has been affected by mental health issues BBC Action Line has compiled a list of organisations that can offer help.