Docklands on Boards

About Docklands on Board

The Active Campus x Everybody on Boards x Visual Arts Cluster partnership is part of our commitment to increasing participation for better health, wellbeing and better experiences and getting our students involved in real-life design briefs with actual clients.

We aim to facilitate wellbeing by encouraging people to move more, with new events and activities each term and significant improvements to campus facilities. We are working to develop a skateboarding culture at UEL, supported by the Everybody on Boards and the Visual Arts Cluster. Our Level 5 and 6, BA Visual Communication students were tasked with the branding and cosmetic treatment of a skatepark planned for UEL’s waterfront between two residential hall buildings. They designed a new campus skatepark as part of their course project. They presented to the VIP panel and showed their outcomes in an exhibition in SportsDock foyer as well as VisComms Week 12 show.

The winning design will go on to inspire a real, functional skatepark on campus — designed by students, for students. The initiative brings together students, staff and partners to promote creativity, wellbeing and active living — while embedding work-based learning, employability skills and UEL’s belonging framework into every stage of the process. 

About Everybody on Boards

Everybody on Boards is an award-winning non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering young people and families through skateboarding, snowboarding and surfing.

They stand for community, culture and planet - using action sports as a way to build confidence, transferable skills and positive habits that extend far beyond the board.

Their mission is to equip young people with skills for life, helping them make healthy, informed choices and achieve their full potential. They provide early access to action sports for all, regardless of background, gender identity or social status, while fostering kindness, inclusion and compassion.

Their vision is to encourage young people to enjoy life through outdoor activity, learning through vocational projects and contributing meaningfully to their local communities.

What’s happening

Throughout the year, we will deliver taster sessions, workshops and pop-up skateboarding experiences across campus to introduce students to the sport.

Phase 1: panel event and student showcase

In October, 75 - Year 2 and 3 Visual Communications students formed 14 groups to pitch their ideas for a new on-campus skatepark as part of Docklands on Board, a collaboration between Active Campus, Everybody on Boards CIC and East London Sport.

Students presented their branding and design concepts to a panel of industry professionals including Agnieszka Aga Wood, Dr. Kieth Winter, Wesley Hartwell, Bas Lam, Ed Gill and Hilary Lissenden, Executive Director, Sport Strategy & Growth, University of East London. Each group delivered a formal presentation followed by a Q+A, demonstrating creativity, confidence and real-world professional skills.

Following the panel, one winning group and two runners-up were selected. Prizes and certificates were presented by Kate Anderson, Head of the Cultural Programme and Partnerships at The Royal Docks Team and James Kaguima, multi-award-winning leader from Skate Cabal at SportsDock. All participating groups were recognised for their contribution to the project.

The students’ work was then curated into a public exhibition in the SportsDock foyer, viewed by hundreds of students, staff and visitors as they passed through the campus sports centre.

Docklands on Board is a creative partnership between the University of East London and award-winning non-profit organisation Everybody on Boards. The project brings together education, community and physical activity to reimagine campus spaces and strengthen connections between students and the local area through skateboarding.

The winning design from Phase 1 will help inform the future development of a skatepark at UEL, showcasing what can be achieved when careers-focused learning, creativity and purpose come together.

Phase 2: SKATE SPOT Plaza

Phase 2 of Docklands on Board marks the next step in bringing a skateable public space to the University of East London’s Docklands campus.

Building on the success of the initial student panel and exhibition, this phase focuses on the design of a skateable plaza located on the Docklands waterfront, between two residential hall buildings. The project continues the collaboration between Active Campus, Everybody on Boards and the Visual Arts Cluster, with the shared aim of activating underused campus spaces through inclusive, community-led design.

What’s happening next

During Phase 2, UEL students will work on developing proposals for a skateable public realm space that integrates skateboarding into everyday campus life. Rather than a traditional skatepark, the plaza is envisioned as an open, welcoming space that supports movement, learning and social interaction while respecting its residential and waterfront setting.

Design work will be informed by expert input from skatepark designers and Everybody on Boards, ensuring that proposals are realistic, inclusive and suitable for long-term use.

A winning proposal will be selected in February, with prototype development planned to follow.

The Docklands on Board skate plaza

The proposed plaza will be designed to:

  • Activate the UEL waterfront as a positive social space
  • Encourage informal participation in skateboarding and wheeled activities
  • Be welcoming to beginners, underrepresented groups and spectators
  • Balance play, architecture and landscape design
  • Co-exist with surrounding residential buildings and pedestrian routes

The space will support both structured activity, such as workshops and demonstrations, and informal everyday use by students and the local community.

Get involved

No experience is needed — all equipment and instruction will be provided by us.
Stay tuned on our channels for upcoming taster sessions and opportunities to learn new skills, make friends and be part of shaping UEL’s next active space.

Who it’s for

The skate plaza is intended for a wide range of users, including:

  • UEL students and young people
  • Beginner and intermediate skateboarders
  • Participants in Everybody on Boards programmes
  • Local residents, pedestrians and spectators

The design prioritises accessibility, safety and inclusivity so that everyone can feel comfortable using or spending time in the space.

What to expect this year

Alongside the design development, Active Campus and Everybody on Boards will continue to deliver taster sessions, workshops and pop-up skateboarding activities across campus. These sessions will introduce students to skateboarding, build confidence and help grow a skateboarding culture at UEL ahead of the plaza’s delivery.

Looking ahead

The winning design from Phase 2 will inform the future development of a permanent skateable space at UEL Docklands. Docklands on Board demonstrates how creativity, physical activity and work-based learning can come together to create active, inclusive places shaped by students, for students.

Updates on design progress, workshops and upcoming activities will be shared throughout the year.