A MANAGER at a Blackburn skatepark is set to join household names from the world of sport at a reception in the House of Lords.

The event will see Andrew McKinnon, site manager at Junction 4 Skatepark, crowned as a Community Champion by Barclays Spaces for Sports and the Football Foundation (FF) for his services to sport in the town.

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Mr McKinnon has overseen the site’s progress from being unused in 2012 to now boasting more than 16,000 visitors a year and more than 2,000 registered users.

He insisted both Barclays Spaces for Sports and the FF have been vital in turning the site around and he was excited about representing his colleagues.

He said: “Barclays Spaces for Sports and the FF have been pivotal in helping us turn a once unused sports arena into a widely used skatepark that is easily accessible and cheap to use.

“The site prides itself on the community inclusion working in partnership with Blackburn Rovers Community Trust providing weekly free sessions as part of the Motivate scheme.

“It is very exciting to have been invited to this event by Barclays and the FF and I look forward to representing my colleagues such as Chris McKenna, who has been an invaluable companion throughout.”

Paulette Cohen, director of global programmes at Barclays Spaces for Sports, said of his achievements: “Since 2004 Barclays Spaces for Sports has been engaging young people in some of the most disadvantaged parts of the country and it is wonderful Andrew, just one of the hundreds of people who help run our facilities, is being recognised for their hard work.”

Barclays Spaces for Sports, launched in 2004, is the UK’s largest ever sports-based corporate social responsibility programme.

The investment into the programme in the UK was £67 million.