Shanko’s Skate School is an accessible and inclusive skateboard coaching service, founded and led by professional coach, Cath Shanks.
Shanko’s primary focus is to help people access skating, no matter what barriers they may currently face. We’re on a mission to provide a safe space where everybody feels welcome, supported, free to be themselves and able to learn without fear of judgement.
We’re currently running regular school sessions, as well as delivering and developing two targeted funded projects, which focus on Mental Health awareness and SEN inclusive sessions.
ABOUT CATH
Cath has over 15 years of sports coaching experience, is a nationally qualified skateboard coach and also has experience as a course tutor and coach mentor for both of the Skateboard GB coaching qualifications.
Cath holds an Updated Enhanced DBS check, is First Aid qualified and Safeguarding trained. As well as regularly completing workshops around Mental Health, Promoting Inclusivity and Understanding Autism.
Cath is also a proud Nike: Made to Play Coach Educator, a role which includes working with and mentoring coaches who work or volunteer at Made to Play partners and organisations, alongside the incredible Youth Sport Trust International. The most recent workshops have been focused on educating people about the new Body Confident Sport initiative, with Cath delivering CPD workshops in both London and Amsterdam.
As part of the Gurls Talk x Nike: Coach in your Corner project she has been working with a selected cohort of sports coaches from the UK and the USA to build a resource guide for coaches who work with adolescent girls in sports. We’re happy to announce that these resources are now available worldwide:
During Year 3 of this initiative, she developed a new Mental Health focused Skateboarding Program for 13-17 year old girls, to which she has delivered to two cohorts of girls (More information about this will be on our blog soon).
For the fourth and final year, Cath has been selected to become Lead Coach for the UK, to deliver CPD training to coaches, around Mental Health for girls.
Cath was diagnosed with Epilepsy when she was 14 and is still navigating different medications to try and gain full seizure control. Having unstable epilepsy, alongside trying to manage ADHD and Autism as an adult female, has proved a real challenge, but Shanko’s Skate School is the byproduct of these challenges, so it’s all been worth it. It’s her main motivation to provide safe and inclusive sessions for everyone, particularly those with additional needs, disabilities or mental health struggles.
GET IN TOUCH!
There are no silly questions, so if you wanted to ask anything or reach out to us, feel free to drop us a message below 🙂
THANK YOU FOR VISITING OUR WEBSITE!
Don’t forget to follow @shankosskateschool on Instagram for regular updates.
CONTACT
Cath Shanks
cath@shankosskateschool.com
WhatsApp: +447591492107
shankosskateschool.com 