Rampworx, one of the UK's largest indoor skate parks, is fighting to stay open for another generation as it faces an ageing building, a short-term lease, and the loss of part of its premises. The Bootle venue, which has served the community for nearly three decades, needs funding to continue its work with hundreds of young people each week.
From a dilapidated warehouse to a 70,000 sq ft arena
Rampworx was founded by Rachael Robinson's late husband, Ian, and his friend Rob, who met while working at Asda. Rob was tired of travelling for kids to skate and wanted to create somewhere local for young people into extreme sports. The pair started in a dilapidated warehouse in Birkenhead before opening the original Rampworks on Hartley Avenue off Long Lane, Liverpool, in 1997, in a site formerly home to a Jacob's factory.
The venue later moved to Leckwith Road in Bootle and was renamed Rampworx in 2002. Today it remains one of the few facilities of its kind in the North West, with the nearest similar venue being Ramp 1 in Warrington. Spanning 70,000 square feet, the indoor arena is packed with wooden ramps, a deep bowl, foam pits, and more, tailored for beginners and pros alike.
A community hub and registered charity
As well as a physical space to ride, the venue offers coaching and support, alongside an in-person and online store for skateboards, BMX bikes, and accessories. Rampworx is now a registered children's charity and works with hundreds of young people each week through a range of developmental activities and sports.
Rachael said: "Back in the day, skating was quite niche. Back then, to be a rollerblader, BMXer, or skater wasn't as usual." She added that in its heyday it was "booming," recalling frequent events including their "famous all-nighters".
She said: "Over the years, Ian and Rob turned the place into a home for children. It’s not just a skate park; it's a really valuable asset for the community. Not all children come from family homes where they are encouraged to take part in [sports]. They feel a sense of belonging here. Kids meet here to hang out, especially in the winter. It's a different version of a youth centre for some of them. For a lot of parents, it is a way to know their kids get independence as well as being somewhere safe."
Ongoing battle for funding and future
Working with Sefton Council and local youth organisations, Rampworx regularly offers SEN-friendly classes, holiday clubs, and subsidised sessions for vulnerable and low-income families. Money made from paid sessions goes back into running the venue. The venue also welcomes plenty of adult and professional riders and has produced professional athletes, including BMXer Harry Main and Team GB BMX cyclist Dylan Hessey. The majority of staff in the shop or coaching on the park started out as riders.
With highs and lows over the years - including Rob sustaining an injury that left him unable to work - Rachael is determined to keep the skate park going. But with the current building "ageing" and with a leaking roof, it is a goal that will require extensive work. The site's short-term lease also presents a major barrier to securing funding. Additionally, a section of the building is being reclaimed by the owners, meaning a redesign of the park will be necessary to continue catering to riders of all experience levels.
Rachael hopes a 30-year celebration in 2027 can help rally support and investment. She said: "To keep this place safe for users is an ongoing battle. We also need funding to make sure the park stays challenging for experienced riders. To still be here is remarkable and so important to the community, that we are going to have to do our utmost [to keep going]. We'd like to take Rampworx into the next 30 years and make something even more momentous - ideally in [Bootle] where we have called home for so long."
