Community

Name: The Coping Festival — Open Community Planning & Jam
Start: 2027-07-18
Location: Salford, Greater Manchester

The Coping started in a skate park and that’s still where we belong. We create free, in-person experiences that bring people together around skating, creativity and wellbeing.

Our aim

Improved collective wellbeing. Life is a series of stories: the ones we tell ourselves, each other, and as a society. We’d rather create and tell the ones that lift us up. Stories for brighter futures.

CARE

Smiling children creating giant bubbles at a Coping event

Connection

bringing people together, in person.

Mother and daughter learning to skate together

Action

getting moving. Skating, riding, walking, running, making.

Young boy typing his thoughts on a typewriter at a Coping workshop

Reflection

space to talk honestly about how we’re all doing.

Children learning how to weave at a hands-on creative workshop

Education

talks, lessons and skills shared by people who’ve been there.

The Coping Festival

Since 2019, a free festival of skating, creating and wellbeing. Skate jams, live music, art, and honest talks about mental health with pro skaters and Olympic athletes. Grassroots, powered by volunteers, funded by sponsors and the community. Funds have been raised for the Ben Raemers Foundation across several festivals.

Mr Scruff and Kuntri Ranks performing live at The Coping Festival — Live music from Mr Scruff and Kuntri Ranks

DJ Woody performing on the decks — DJ Woody live set beside the ramps

Skaters Lucas Jackson and Conrad Rowe hugging after the skate jam — No ego — lifting each other up in the skate jam

Skater flying over the hip during Oakley Community Day — Pro skaters, Olympic athletes, and local riders sharing the park

Families and young skaters connecting at the festival — Grassroots, powered by volunteers, funded by creative work and partners

Move a Mile

One mile. Different speeds. Skate it, ride it, walk it, run it, with art, music, skate lessons and free activities all the way along. It started as a trial at the 2025 festival, went big in Salford in 2026, then bigger again in Stockport.

Visit Move a Mile [Move a Mile URL] Read the Move a Mile case study

Skaters and families on the Move a Mile route

Where the money goes

What we earn from our creative work goes back into free community events. [Wording to be confirmed with advisory board]

Impact

Raised £[20,000+] for charities including the Ben Raemers Foundation. [Updated figures]

Upcoming events

Every Coping event is free and open to everyone. Managed via /admin.

Move a Mile: Community Trail & Skate Sessions

Spring 2027 [Date TBC] · Salford & Stockport, Greater Manchester

One mile. Different speeds. Skate it, ride it, walk it, run it—with free live art, music, and beginner skate lessons all the way along.

See how Move a Mile works

The Coping Festival — Open Community Planning & Jam

Summer 2027 [Date TBC] · Salford, Greater Manchester

Free skate jam, live creative workshops, music, and open conversations on collective wellbeing.

Explore The Coping Festival

Made possible by

GRIT Studios, Graystone Action Sports, Send It Skatepark, Stockport Council, and local Salford & Greater Manchester organisations. [Partner permissions confirmation in progress]

GRIT Studios × The Coping partnership lockup

Move a Mile Creative Community Trail Partner

Graystone Action Sports
Salford 100
Salford Shopping Centre
GM High Sheriff's Police Trust
Seddon
Salford Youth Zone
Pride in Place
Send It Skatepark [Logo & permission TBC]
Stockport Council [Logo & permission TBC]

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