The Medway Messenger’s Charity of the Year for 2018, Unit 1 Skatepark, raised more than £700 with its recent scooter competition, which attracted top riders from the area.

The park in Rochester hosted guest appearances from world number one scooter rider Dante Hutchinson, Root Industries rider Jamie Addison and Crisp Scooters’ Nathanael West, who judged the contest.

It was held on Friday December 29, 2017 and attracted 43 competitors, with more than 120 people watching.

Nikki Richards, 45, is a volunteer at Unit 1, helping with marketing and advertising.

She said: “It was a great day overall, with a great atmosphere. The standard was very high, as it always is in a competition like this.”

The competition was split into three categories – under- 10s, under-14s and over-14s.

Carter Hughes, nine, Ben Playford, 13, and Ethan Fernandez, 17, were the winners for their respective groups, with Henry Ince, eight, George Sears, 14, and Dan Rogers, 15, the runners-up.

Crisp Scooters supplied the prizes, which ranged from T-shirts, to scooter bars and wheels. In addition to Nathanael judging the event, Nikki said the appearances of other pro-riders helped increase the turn-out for the competition.

She said: “When you’ve got Dante, Jamie and Nathanael there, it’s great because people want to scoot with them. They come down to see them and ride with them.”

The charity was formed in 2007 and has become a social hub for riders, focusing on those with a lack of family support.

Nathanael is among those who has been helped by the charity after going to sessions at Unit 1 for several years.

The charity was founded by Kathy Holmes, who has seen it grow and develop, including creating links to authorities, food banks, rehabilitation and homeless centres.

The skatepark can be hired out as a venue for children’s parties, schools and special needs groups. You can also book scooter lessons with Nathanael on Saturday mornings at unit1skatepark.co.uk/.