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Lorenzo’s on the fast track to skating success

25 May, 2023

Scarborough skateboarder Lorenzo Ferrari is on the fast track to success - with a helping hand from the Woodsmith Foundation.

Lorenzo, 14, received a £1,500 grant from the Foundation, an independent charity funded by Anglo American, owner of the Woodsmith Project, as part of their Young & Talented funding round aimed at helping talented, local youngsters achieve their full potential.

Lorenzo recently reached the semi-finals of the Skateboard GB National Championship and continues to travel to Manchester to be a part of the Skateboard GB Pathway programme.

 “This funding has helped me take my skating to the next level. Without the support of the Woodsmith Foundation, I wouldn’t be able to continue as part of the Skateboarding GB Pathway programme,” said Lorenzo.

Leah Swain, Chief Executive of the Woodsmith Foundation, said: “Young & Talented was launched to support young people just like Lorenzo, who might need some financial support to be able to achieve their full potential.

“It’s great that we’re able to support Lorenzo to keep attending the GB Pathway programme in Manchester and we look forward to following his progress.”

The Foundation was set up to bring wider community benefits in addition to the positive economic impact of the Woodsmith Project, supporting community projects in Redcar and Cleveland Borough, Scarborough Borough and the North York Moors National Park. 

Anglo American pledged a four-year, £4m funding package when it acquired the Woodsmith Project in March 2020. The Foundation distributed over £1.7million in grants in 2022.

The Young & Talented funding round is still open for applications. For more information on how to apply for funding visit  https://woodsmithfoundation.org.uk/current-funding/young-and-talented/ 

For further information, please contact:

Leah Swain, Chief Executive
[email protected]
07724 832982

Notes to editors:

About the Woodsmith Foundation:

The Woodsmith Foundation was established to distribute funds to local community projects, which can range from wellbeing support and social activities, skills training, action on social issues such as climate change, to improving public spaces and facilities The articles of association define the area of benefit as within the North York Moors National Park and the boroughs of Scarborough and Redcar & Cleveland. Once the mine goes into production a small proportion of annual funds may also be deployed outside the area of benefit, provided the Foundation’s objectives are still met.

Anglo American makes a donation to the Foundation of £1m a year while Woodsmith Mine is under construction. Longer term, it will be funded by percentage of mine revenue, which is expected to amount to several million pounds per year.

The charitable objectives of the Foundation are to:

  • Advance education, including supporting projects and training that benefit people by enhancing their skills;
  • Promote the general health of the community;
  • Advance environmental protection and improvement including the enhancing of the local landscape;
  • Provide and improve facilities in the interests of social welfare and leisure time with the aim to improve residents' well-being;
  • Help gain skills to those in need, because of financial hardship by being out-of-work, particularly the long-term unemployed.

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