A board at fifteen
Skateboarding came into Oakley's life at fifteen, right when he needed it most. He was quietly struggling with his mental health, and the skatepark became the one place that made sense. No pressure, no judgement, just a board and a bit of space to breathe.
Learning to skate taught him patience with himself. Falling off and getting back up, over and over, turned out to be exactly the practice he needed off the board too. Slowly, it gave him confidence, friends and a reason to keep showing up.
Years later, Oakley founded Confiskate in Portsmouth to hand that same lifeline to other young people, because he knows first-hand what it can mean.
From one skater to a whole community
Confiskate grew straight out of Oakley's own experience. What started as one person's story became a simple mission: use skateboarding to support young people across Portsmouth, with their mental health, their confidence, and their sense of belonging.
It's never been about tricks or talent. It's about showing up, being welcome exactly as you are, and finding people who get it. That's what we're building, one session and one conversation at a time.
Here to listen
you're never alone
Here to
skate
LOOKING AHEAD
Just getting rolling
This is only the beginning. We're working towards more sessions, more events and more opportunities for young people right across Portsmouth, and, in time, beyond it. Wherever there's a young person who needs somewhere to belong, that's where we want to be.
