29/08/2026
ATBShop summer - You've got to read to the end because you'll never believe!!!
Where to start? Firstly I couldn't be prouder of my team. The weather has been unbearable. None of us are sure who had it worst? Working in the worlds hottest shop or working 2 events a day in the scorching summer sun at concrete skate parks where there’s no shade, or was it working at out summer camp in the scorching summer sun teaching everyone how to ride scooters and skateboards? To say its been gruelling would be an understatement.
Our outdoor team have pretty much seen it all this year! The first week of the skate events saw Hayden stepping in to stop a child being assaulted. It was horrific - beaten to the floor and his head kicked at repetitively all for looking the wrong way at someone. I can assure you all "said" child did nothing wrong and this was totally unprovoked but we all rushed into action -police, ambulance getting hold of the parents extra staff drafted in to help. Thankfully he's okay and still feels safe enough to attend our events despite that incident! Never in our time have we witnessed anything like this!
Wild fires where they had to evacuate skate parks because the risk to life was high! Hayden safely helped everyone escape without being harmed.
Then one of the last summer outdoor events saw an unprovoked case of miss identity with a large machete. Yes two men dressed in black on eBikes showed up and grabbed someone hanging around the skate park and started threatening them. Hayden showed such bravery in that situation. Never in the 26 years have we ever had to witness that. Thankfully no one was harmed and it was nothing to do with anyone at the skate park.
On top of running all these events we ran a summer school for 5 weeks. Its crazy to think running a summer school this summer has actually put us into deficit. Thats a story for another day but I can tell you its been hard to be motivated knowing we are all working to lower a deficit and not to make profit. Everyone knew the situation so worked extra hard. I couldn't have been prouder and more thankful for the team I was blessed with! The parents all know what we have done for them as well and I think the photo of all the presents, cards and wine say it all. We felt very loved.
On top of running over 50 free events and feeding over 700 children this year, we managed to run our ATBShop Monday to Saturday 10am-5:30pm and paddle clue Tuesday. Its been such a successful little shop this summer so would like to thank everyone for shopping local and keeping us in business. Stuart, Tommy and Lily have worked their little socks off. Tommy in particular working 6 days a week to keep the shop open and filling in driving all over Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Swindon for our events was the kindest thing ever! Tommy you are a hero!!!! Thanks for saving the summer!
So thanks to everyone this year you've all been heros and Stu and I are so thankful!!! ###
