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“Sam! Sam! I did a full 360!” said a boy standing on a skateboard in a black Adidas tracksuit, knee pads, elbow pads and a helmet after managing to do a full circle for the first time without a wobble.

Instructor Sam Horler turned briefly from helping another child, joined in the celebration and said: “Nice one, butt!”

It was just the start of a free session for children run by Sam in Rhymney skatepark – one of many held throughout the summer holidays and the year across Caerphilly County Borough.

During the hour-and-a-half-long session, participants were taught how to balance, skate down a ramp and a cool way to pick up their boards – to name just a few things.

Sam, who founded Skateboard Academy in 2020 said: “There’s a lot of kids who just turn away from a challenge. Like, ‘I can’t do it’. Their default is negative about themselves.

“They’ll just stay in their house and scroll on their phone and go through TikTok and I want to be part of the movement against that.”

This means that when children come along to Sam’s session they aren’t just learning how to balance on the board – but also bring that steadiness to their lives too.

Sam continued: “I love skateboarding and I would love to see everyone turn into skateboarders but I also realise that this is actually like a muscle.

“And if you’re training that resilience muscle then you’re hardening it,” said Sam adding that resilience at the skatepark could mean perseverance when it comes to other challenges – like their GCSEs.

The free session on August 30 in Rhymney was thanks to funding from Rhymney Community Council – but various town and community councils in the county borough, along with Sport Caerphilly, contribute towards events – some free and some paid – which can be booked online.

One of the attendees in Rhymney was six-year-old Louie Kinsey who was brought to the skatepark by his Dad, Richard Hicks.

Louie first started using the skatepark with his scooter but got involved with Skateboard Academy when his mother saw the sessions advertised on Facebook.

They’ve been going well, according to Richard, who said: “We bought him a skateboard he enjoys it that much,” adding that he often practises what he’s learnt that week outside their home.

Another outdoor skatepark or an indoor one would be a good idea as this one is always “busy”, according to Richard.

After all, the skatepark is a positive thing for the children in the area – somewhere to go and something healthy to do.

Richard continued: “You’re getting exercise out in the fresh air. You’re not stuck on computer games all the time.”

It’s a rare option for young people in the area. Richard added: “There’s nowhere else for them to go.

“There’s no leisure centre, there’s no swimming around here or anything like that.”

In fact, activities like this have the power to provide not only opportunities but also do a great deal of good.

In areas such as Rhymney, which had three dispersal orders in August alone, skateboarding can act as a positive influence and even a deterrent.

Sam said: “During my sessions, we’re supervising the area and we’re using the area in a positive way.”

He continued: “It sanitises the area,” adding that it could act as a deterrent to people or groups who may otherwise use the skatepark in a negative way.

Sam added that this leans into the idea of community safety, which is a holistic approach to reducing crime and disorder in local communities.

He said: “They [the community council] want someone up there to invest in the kids. I’m a positive, encouraging person. There are lots of children who don’t have that person in their lives.”

The children at the session were of all different levels, which are catered for.

“I’m working with kids, some of them do have that nervous disposition,” said Sam, “and then it’s my job to bridge the gap.”

This can mean starting off by almost supporting their whole body weight, to just lightly helping them before they’re ready to do it alone.

“They don’t even need to comment on it,” said Sam, “they’re also ready to take on that chance.”

Sam provides all the equipment needed, including skateboards, safety pads and helmets – meaning there are no issues when there’s an inevitable tumble.

But getting stuck back in after the fall is the main mantra, as Sam said: “Shake it off.”