frequently asked questions

Long Live Southbank is a non-profit company set up by the grassroots Southbank community to serve in the best interest of the long term future of the Southbank Skate Spot. After preserving Southbank in 2014, Long Live Southbank authored a proposal to restore legendary sections of the spot that have been closed off since 2004. Working collaboratively with Southbank Centre, we have gained planning permission in partnership and are currently fundraising so that this restoration can become a reality.

We’re doing well! At the time of writing (September 2018) we’ve raised over £850,000 towards the project since we launched in June last year. We need to hit £1.1m to start works, so although we aren’t there yet, we’re certainly confident that we can raise the remaining funds.

Our funds raised have come from a wide variety of sources. The Mayor’s Good Growth Fund have pledged £350,000 if the project is fully funded. The London Marathon Charitable Trust have given £185,000 and Sports England £100,000. Other major supporters include Supreme, Palace Skateboards, the Architectural Heritage Fund and major anonymous contributions. Then we have the people to thank! We’ve raised huge amounts through our crowdfunding and merchandise sales. An absolutely massive shout out to everyone who has contributed, in whatever way!

We have a thorough fundraising plan to raise the rest of the sum required for the project although we’re always on the lookout for new avenues and conversations. We’ve got a number of fundraising applications open and plenty of positive conversations open in addition to our ongoing crowdfunder.

We’re a small team and there’s no fixed office so more often than not you can find us within 100m of the skate spot itself, pirating some Wifi. We’re Southbank locals and there’s a few dozen of us who are happy to sit at the table all day whatever the weather, selling t-shirts and chatting to the public. Having said that, some of the most important contributions have come from people who’s backgrounds have been elsewhere but love the space just as much as us. This is no exclusive club and we’re always open to people getting in contact. It’s a family thing and that will never change.

The Undercroft Old Space is an important part of the Southbank Undercroft. It was discovered by skateboarders in 1973 and quickly developed into one of the most important skateboarding spots in the world. With the intention of a temporary closure, it was boarded up in 2004 and has not been skated since.

It is incredibly important, whether you skate or not. The Southbank Undercroft is a rare free creative space in the very heart of London, and this restoration would create a far more complete space for young people to develop creatively. Whether that is through skateboarding, BMX, art, filmmaking or photography, it will enrich London’s cultural life, give young people positive and creative outlets as well as a much needed sense of community.

In the skateboarding world this would be of huge importance. This space is the longest continually skated space in the world. It’s restoration will be a landmark for skateboarders across the globe.

An fundraising agreement has been signed with Southbank Centre that will see the restoration occur in two phases. The first area to be restored includes the majority of the space that was closed in 2004, as viewable in the plans on our home page. There will be a much expanded space for skating and other free creative activities, including the little banks and the long ledge restored and refurbished. Adjacent to this will be a Schools and Young People’s Centre programmed by Southbank Centre. The second phase is a long term plan that would see the Young People’s Centre rehoused when a viable alternative site is found and funding is in place, following new developments on Southbank Centre’s site.

We have planning permission, so when the fundraising is complete the process towards spades in the ground should be relatively quick. We’re hoping that the build can start by late Winter/ early Spring 2019. The build will then take 4 months.

Long Live Southbank endeavour to be as transparent about our fundraising and its progress as possible. We are always open for questions over email, and make an effort to be available for in person chats at regular fundraising events and down at Southbank. We keep our supporters regularly updated via social media and monthly mailouts and are in regular consultation with the local community as to our fundraising aims and progress.

There is plenty you can do to help! Individual donations are always welcome over at www.llsbdonate.com and encouraging others to support as well is great as well. Beyond this, there is plenty more you can do to help. Spreading the word and talking about the restoration to as many people as possible and sharing our latest news on your social media channels can make a really big difference.

Everyone has different skills and connections. It’s a community project, so we can all think about who we can talk to, who we can put in contact and how that can make a really big difference. Please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us at hello@llsb.com.

If you are also interested in volunteering with Long Live Southbank and have time that you can dedicate consistently and reliably then similarly please email us on hello@llsb.com.

Our relationship with Southbank Centre has improved greatly over the last 3 years. We are now partnering closely with Southbank Centre, having jointly submitted the Undercroft restoration’s planning application to the council. We meet regularly and would like to deliver this project in collaboration.

hello@llsb.com is best

Long Live Southbank has written a comprehensive article, designed to help other campaigns. This has been published by Kingpin and can be viewed here, with full interviews appearing on the blog section of this website. More advice can also be seen in our article in SkateJawn and can be seen here

Long Live Southbank are committed to sharing the knowledge we have gained as widely as possible, helping others to stand up for free creative space. If you would like more advice, please do not hesitate to contact hello@llsb.com.