{"id":10545,"title":"Get Involved: Let The Kids Shred","description":"Internet businesses have the power to reach people all over the world. That\u2019s why we're asking you to help us use the internet to enable kids on the Isle of Wight to shred a new skatepark. Read on to get involved, and help bring more kickflips and powerslides memories to the world.","content":"

Internet businesses have the power to reach people all around the world. It works both ways and today almost every community on Earth is affected by the internet. Technology by itself doesn\u2019t do anything, so whether the effect is positive, or negative, comes down to how internet companies and communities use it. As a values-based business, we like to find ways to do things that are positive for humans and the environment. That\u2019s why we want to ask you to help us use the internet to enable kids on the Isle of Wight to shred a new skatepark made possible in part by technology. The team behind this project need a little help from us, and from you, to make it happen. So we wrote this blog about it. Let's drop right in.<\/p>

\"\"-- Local shredder Martha on the Isle of Wight. Photo: @martha_egg1<\/em><\/p>

Lockdown has been hard because of the way that people are confined, and because of only limited opportunities, young people's mental health has suffered. In Freshwater, on the Isle of Wight, that feeling may be a familiar one, particularly for young people even before the pandemic. That\u2019s because while it is a beautiful and supportive place to live, it has the highest rate of retirees per capita on the Island, and \u201cway out in the West Wight\u201d there are more fields and farms than factories and fraternizing.<\/p>

\"\"-- Longtime Rapa friend Munk.<\/em><\/p>

While we have much better waves, the West Wight doesn\u2019t have the same access to jobs or social opportunities as others on the mainland, or even in the Island's bigger towns. But one thing Freshwater does have going for it is the positive and ambitious community spirit. That is what attracted us to invest in the town and bring around 100 jobs to our HQ and factory building at Acorn Springworks, a former supermarket, built on the site of the old West Wight Train station and next to the former home of famous physicist Robert Hooke.\u00a0<\/p>

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-- Digital, sustainable and growing fast, our circular technology<\/a> is bringing investment and jobs back to the Isle of Wight.<\/em><\/p>

The cool thing about being based here is seeing how orders from around the World can create investment and high tech jobs in what used to be a low-tech community. But while a good job can support a good life, life is about more than just a job. This brings us to a question we can all relate to. If children are the future and we want the future to be positive, how do we make sure they have a positive childhood? That\u2019s where the new Freshwater Skatepark and Pump track comes in.

The team at the Parish Council have a plan to build a new skatepark and pump track next to the famously awesome West Wight Community Center. The way the pump track is designed, it means people just getting into skating, roller blading, bmxing or even those that want to shred some wheelies on their heelies can come down, have fun and build some confidence.<\/p>

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-- Pump tracks can be used by skaters, bladers, bmxers and others in the community.<\/em><\/p>

Of course, the project is not cheap. And this might be the bit where people normally would ask for money. But there are businesses, like us, that are willing to help pay for it. And there is something even more valuable we would like people to help with. The most interesting part of the project is that there is funding available from Community Grants set aside to help projects like this. Providing the project team can prove the community actually want it.<\/p>

So what\u2019s the issue? It comes down to a very interesting crossover between community and technology. Applications for funding like this look at how much engagement there is with the community to measure <\/em><\/strong>community interest. Rather than ask to help with funding we have a simple request from the crowd of positive, forward thinking humans out there on the internet: You. We would like you to engage with this idea. To like, share, or comment on the posts from the Freshwater Pump Track Team<\/a>. Which sounds silly, but from the perspective of the team, each comment - that you think a skate track would be a good thing for the kids here post-Covid - is evidence that the team can use to show that their project is something that will benefit the community.<\/p>

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-- 10 year old Martha on the Isle of Wight. Photos: @martha_egg1<\/em><\/p>

If you\u2019re reading this on a phone, laptop or tablet, here\u2019s a positive thing you can do with that tool today. Engage with the team and help bring more kickflips, powerslides and other high speed smiley memories to the world.<\/p>","urlTitle":"get-involved-let-the-kids-shred","url":"\/blog\/get-involved-let-the-kids-shred\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/get-involved-let-the-kids-shred\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/rapanuiclothing.com\/blog\/get-involved-let-the-kids-shred\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1615888375,"updatedAt":1636979697,"publishedAt":1636979697,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":14,"name":"Rapanui"},"tags":[{"id":25,"code":"values","name":"values","url":"\/blog\/tagged\/values\/"},{"id":405,"code":"isleofwight","name":"isleofwight","url":"\/blog\/tagged\/isleofwight\/"},{"id":410,"code":"getinvolved","name":"getinvolved","url":"\/blog\/tagged\/getinvolved\/"},{"id":411,"code":"read","name":"read","url":"\/blog\/tagged\/read\/"}],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/5yxxclqnedjtbgpzdefdou67tikwpgnuygpcfg2wwfk8tip1.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/5yxxclqnedjtbgpzdefdou67tikwpgnuygpcfg2wwfk8tip1.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/5yxxclqnedjtbgpzdefdou67tikwpgnuygpcfg2wwfk8tip1.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"let-the-kids-shred-freshwater-skate-park","metaDescription":"We need your help to use the internet to enable kids on the Isle of Wight to shred a new skatepark made possible in part by technology.","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":12662,"title":"Read: Going Full Circle","url":"\/blog\/circular-fashion-traceability-and-the-business-economy\/","urlTitle":"circular-fashion-traceability-and-the-business-economy","division":14,"description":"Somewhere along the way we forgot why we invented the idea of companies. It was never meant to be about disadvantaging others, or harming the environment.\u00a0Those that lead companies have the power to change the World for the better. We should challenge them to navigate with the right questions.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/q6r7jt5fjaiutp0hdoc7c1ldtss46ynrzyhg1lqrbc3opiwb.png.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/q6r7jt5fjaiutp0hdoc7c1ldtss46ynrzyhg1lqrbc3opiwb.png.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":21251,"title":"In pursuit of the perfect Breton tee","url":"\/blog\/perfect-breton-top\/","urlTitle":"perfect-breton-top","division":14,"description":"To find the best things in life, it's often worth going back to the start. For this ex-fashion editor, that means the Breton stripes she wore as a kid... and now she's found her favourite of all time.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/xx8weituplnlucjlhsof6qqqcaunfzmavkpwsqcncoeksbxh.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855&z=1.4&fx=0.52255639097744&fy=0.36124401913876","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/xx8weituplnlucjlhsof6qqqcaunfzmavkpwsqcncoeksbxh.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440&z=1.4&fx=0.52255639097744&fy=0.36124401913876"},"hidden":0},{"id":22175,"title":"Why do we actually need raincoats? (spoiler: probably not to climb Everest)","url":"\/blog\/why-do-we-actually-need-raincoats-spoiler-probably-not-to-climb-everest\/","urlTitle":"why-do-we-actually-need-raincoats-spoiler-probably-not-to-climb-everest","division":14,"description":"Why it took us 5 years to perfect our organic cotton, PFC-free, circular rain jackets and ponchos. No forever chemicals here.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/b4ggcs1absl1wivydbqulb7wccfd6owupxo1qmbkwynzpiyp.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/b4ggcs1absl1wivydbqulb7wccfd6owupxo1qmbkwynzpiyp.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":{"monitorCheckExcluded":"1"}}