by Lukas on 19 Feb 2025

Podcast Episode 53 is out: Will Ascott from Free Movement Skateboarding

Skateboarding for Social Change

In this episode of A Little Bit Radical, host Rob Fawkes speaks with Will Ascott, Co-Founder of Free Movement Skateboarding, a grassroots organisation using skateboarding as a tool to empower young people from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds in Athens.

Will shares his journey from a childhood love of skateboarding to founding Free Movement, which has since provided thousands of young people—including refugees, second-generation migrants, and Greek youth—with a space to build confidence, community, and resilience. This episode dives into the challenges of running a small charity, the impact of skateboarding as a social tool, and why building social cohesion is key to a more inclusive future.

In this episode, we discuss:

🛹 From Skater Kid to Social Entrepreneur: How Will’s early love of skateboarding shaped his vision for using it as a tool for empowerment.
🌍 Free Movement Skateboarding: How the organisation brings together young people from refugee, migrant, and Greek communities.
🚐 A Mobile Skate Park: Running skate sessions in public squares, playgrounds, and schools—anywhere that provides a safe space for young people.
🏛 Challenges of Working in Athens: The barriers to supporting refugee youth, navigating government restrictions, and the urgent need for public skate parks.
💡 The Power of Social Cohesion: Why it’s not about forcing people to “integrate” but about creating shared experiences and mutual understanding.
📢 Running a Small Charity: The reality of funding cycles, bureaucracy, and keeping a mission-driven project alive.
🔮 The Future of Free Movement: Will’s vision for a permanent skate park and youth centre in Athens.

Memorable Quotes:

🗣️ “Skateboarding is more than a sport—it’s a way to bring people together across cultures, backgrounds, and experiences.”
🗣️ “Social cohesion isn’t about making people assimilate—it’s about giving them a shared identity while letting them keep their own.”
🗣️ “People need time for positive recreation in their lives. Work shouldn’t take over everything.”