Free Movement Skateboarding refugee charity

Free Movement Skateboarding

Free Movement Skateboarding addresses gaps in accessible and inclusive recreational youth activities in Athens, using our mobile skatepark to provide regular skateboarding sessions.

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October 2016

Will and Ruby meet whilst volunteering for SkatePAL

November 2016

Will volunteers at Khora in Athens and meets Josie of Choose Love, pitches idea for Free Movement Skateboarding

December 2016

Plans are formulated and FMS successfully apply for funding from Choose Love

March 2017

Will Ascott, Ruby Mateja and Benji Sowter drive to Athens, build a mobile skatepark and begin sessions.

2017-18

Free Movement Skateboarding teaches up to 6 sessions per week with a diverse mix of partners, from NGOs in refugee camps, to squats to youth centres.

2018-19

Formally started international volunteer scheme. Project presented at Pushing Boarders, London, UK.

2019-20

FMS officially complete registration as a UK charity. Project presented at Pushing Boarders 2, Malmo, Sweden. We taught 316 sessions, in 7 different locations, to 904 young people. Our participants were 42% girls and from 23 different ethnicities.

2020-21

Despite disruptions and 5 months of inactivity due to Covid 19 and lockdown, we still delivered 130 sessions, in 8 locations, to 394 young people, of whom 45% regularly participated. Our participants were 35% female and from 23 different ethnicities living in Athens. We began to teach in youth social care units, facilitated by the Mum Institute.
girl learning to skateboard
refugee child on a skateboard
free movement skateboarding lessons
skateboarder with graffiti
teaching refugees skateboarding
Taking attendance at skate lesson
a refugee child on a skateboard
Free Movement Skateboarding refugee charity
Free Movement Skateboarding refugee charity

Our team…

Will

Co-Founder

I have been skating for 18 years and have taught skateboarding for 10. With a background in youth and disability support work, a BA in International Development and having volunteered in other social skate projects, I felt lucky to use this experience to start Free Movement Skateboarding with my friend Ruby Mateja back in 2017. I like doing kickflips and skids.
Ruby Mateja

Ruby

Co-Founder

Ruby Mateja has been skateboarding for three years, entering the scene at an exciting time. Ruby sees skateboarding as a creative and empowering activity that can enhance confidence and tenacity in many areas of life. She is enthused to be a part of the rapidly growing girl skate scene, and to introduce this to the local and refugee population in Greece.
Lefteris

Lefty

Finance Officer / Teacher

Born and raised Athenian I loved FMS when I first saw them presenting the idea at an alternative film festival. After volunteering with them for a year, I’m now bringing some local insight, business admin knowledge and sports teaching experience to the team. I am getting my first ollies in and love learning new tricks with the kids!
Denia

Denia

Teacher

Working towards and fighting for the changes I want to see in the society I live in will always be central to my motivation. Over the past years I have worked with various projects in Athens, gaining various vital experience in the field of migration, social projects, youth work and solidarity work. Having a very good grasp on the situation and context in Athens, I joined the FMS team because I understand and see the impact it has, not just on our participants, but also for Athenian society.
Constantina Xafi

Constantina

Digital Officer / Teacher

Roller-skater and screen-printer, born and raised in Athens.
I worked for the first time, a few years ago as an instructor for FMS and literally fell in love with the work this team does through skateboarding! Since 2015 I have volunteered on and off in Kos island and Eleonas camp.
In October 2020 I joined FMS as a core team member and I have been handling the more creative workshops and sessions with the kids, and social media!
Giannis

Giannis

Teacher

I have been skating for the past eight years now. I am from Athens center and I mostly skate there. I have known from my friend Will about FMS but I couldn’t feel ready to ask him if I can join. Then one day I met Ruby at a physiotherapist and I eventually fell in love with the idea. I believe that helping others in general is what people are supposed to do so I volunteered. And now I’m very proud to say that I’m part of the FMS team.
Denia KP

Denia Kp

Teacher

Born and raised in Athens, I started skating about 5 years ago before moving to London to study Animation. While I was there, I realized how many differences there are between the two places when it comes to skateboarding. From the amount of girls skating in each place, to the amount of opportunities skaters get, my goal is to make the skateboarding scene in Athens a lot bigger and more inclusive. I love making people happy and helping them achieve their dreams!
Skatepark in a van

The Van

Mobile Skatepark

Our most reliable team member, The Van has been with us from the beginning. Carrying our mobile skatepark across the city to our daily sessions, fitting through even the narrowest Athenian street gaps like it's nothing.

Our partners & supporters…

Our press & publications…

We are delighted to accept requests from journalists, filmmakers and news platforms who want to find out more about what we do.