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About Us

The Skateboarding Foundation was established to introduce the benefits of skateboarding to young people.

Our vision is a world where all young people are provided the opportunity to fulfil their potential.

Our mission is to help young people, especially but not exclusively through skateboarding, to develop their skills and abilities to enable them to fulfil their potential and participate in society as mature and responsible individuals.

Our Coaches

We have some fantastic coaches with patience, good humour, care, a love of skateboarding and a passion for helping children and young people to learn to love it too.

Polina

My name is Polina, but my friends and family call me P. I am 24 years old and have one big brother that lives In Scotland.

I am originally from Latvia and I have been living in the UK for the past ten years.

I am passionate about aviation and trying to pursue a career as a pilot, while currently doing my Instructor course which is complex but very enjoyable. Back in college I studied Art and Design and like to be creative from time to time.
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My main hobby is Skateboarding, I do it with my best friend on a daily basis, when the weather allows it. Also, like anime and socializing with friends.
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I got into skateboarding about a year ago and absolutely fell in love with it. The spirit, the frustration and sense of achievement – skateboarding has it all. I have managed to get comfortable on a board and learn a few tricks.
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I love skateboarding because of its never give up nature, no matter how many times you might fail you get up and do it again until you finally land it. And the happiness you get from it is unreal!!!
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The skateboarding community is very diverse and everyone welcomes you as a part of the family no matter who you are or where you come from, we have one big passion in common and we all support each other.
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I enjoy being a Skateboarding Foundation Coach and part of The Skateboarding Foundation community because we all work together as a team to inspire and help the younger generation and show them the benefits and joys of skateboarding. Such a great sense of satisfaction to see how the students progress and how much they enjoy it.

Tobi

My name is Mihaela. My friends and family call me Tobi, which better matches my personality. I am 21 years old and I have 2 brothers and one little sister. I’m originally from Romania, now live in England and spend a lot of my time with my best friend and skateboarding.

I studied management at the local university in Romania and want to become a manager – I love interacting with people and motivating them to address their fears and limits. I have been working as a Barista in British Airways environment and it has been very enjoyable interacting with different people and this is when I discovered my passion for airplanes.

I mostly enjoy hanging out with my best friend and finding a perfect spot for skateboarding, but I do like Japanese fighting and I spend days practicing.

I first got into skateboarding in 2019 and since then I can’t stop 🙂 . I tried the first time rolling on my friend’s skateboard and since then I like to surpass my limits and become better day by day.

I absolutely love skateboarding because of the hard work and especially persistence of getting better, same as in life. The most important thing that skateboarding teaches you is that no matter how many times you fall, you get up and try again. On the skateboard I feel like a fighter.

I got involved with the Skateboarding Foundation because I like to see the new generation going out of their comfort zone and trying something that looks easy, but is not.

Especially that there are not so many women skating, it would be nice to encourage girls as well. Being amazed how quick the little ones can pick up things and seeing their progress every day made me be very happy and grateful being a Skateboarding Foundation coach. It has been an amazing experience and opportunity to be part of a community, family and share smiles, laugh and have a good time with the little ones.

Simon Leach

My name is Taimore McDowell but most of my friends/family call me Tai. I am 23 years old and have 1 brother and 1 sister and a dog called Winnie.

I’m originally from Slough a but I spend/spent a lot of time in High Wycombe. I studied Photojournalism at Staffordshire University and graduated with a 2:1 in July 2019. The dream is to take skateboard photographs for a living.

In my spare time I enjoy listening to music, watching skateboarding content, discovering new music, watching countless interviews and documentaries on musicians/skateboarders

I first got into skateboarding when I was 11 years old and life was never the same again. I love skateboarding because it keeps me sane and active.

I love being a Skateboarding Foundation Coach and a part of the Skateboarding Foundation community because I’ve not taught skateboarding to anyone before at I enjoy the feeling of having to think about all the basics again as it takes me back to being an 11 year old kid again.

Our Board Members

Our Trustees of the Board are responsible for the governance, strategy and management of The Skateboarding Foundation.

Paul Rompani (Chair & Founder)

Paul has more than 20 years’ senior management and voluntary experience in the charitable not for profit sector focusing predominantly on health and youth development. He is currently CEO of Addiction Family Support. He has an MSc in Voluntary Sector Organisation from the London School of Economics, is an alumnus of the Henley Business School Leadership Programme and a Fellow of the Clore Social Leadership Experienced Leader Programme. His eldest son has been skateboarding since 2015.

Ryan Davies

Ryan has a strong digital background, boasting over 15 years of experience in the sector. He possesses extensive expertise in developing high-quality user experiences and executing online campaigns for both private and public organisations. With a profound interest in skateboarding, he believes in harnessing the sport as a medium to foster confidence and character-building in young people.

David Hughes

David has spent his career in advertising and creative production, including running WPP’s global creative production business, Hogarth, for five years. He has been a keen surfer and took up longboard skating in his twenties. His son Charlie is a keen skateboarder and David has seen first hand the positive impact skateboarding can have on physical and mental health. His other love is dog training and his favourite film is Dogtown and Z-Boys.​​

Rosa Johnston-Flint

Rosa is a freelance journalist and oversees public relations for a conservation charity. She began her journalism career whilst living in a tiny rooftop studio in Paris – a stone’s throw from the Palais de Tokyo, aka the legendary ‘dôme’ skate spot, where Rosa first tried her hand at skating. Her involvement with The Skateboarding Foundation is a tribute to her late friend, Xynthia Hawke, who worked in the industry and loved the sense of community that skateboarding creates.​​

Simon Leach

Simon’s journey with skateboarding began in the mid-seventies when, as a 10-year-old, he first embraced this non-mainstream activity. This early passion for skateboarding has remained a steadfast influence. As a parent, Simon instilled in his children a love for the outdoors and the enjoyment of active pursuits. An avid cyclist, he recognises the myriad benefits of physical activity and the profound joy in shared experiences​.

Former Trustees of The Skateboarding Foundation include: Charlie Haigh, Richard Porteous, Stefan Schrey, Steven Terry, Dom Trethewey and Tom Wicks.

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