Sometimes it is as simple as having somewhere to hang out and have fun that ensures young lives are heading in the right direction.

Fill that space with an activity which captures the imagination and provides a focus and, if you also have the right people leading, pretty soon everyone is united in the challenge and differences are forgotten.

Which is why in Cheltenham young people with an appetite for skating, BMX and in particular scooters - some of them caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place, choose The Rock.

It is the name given to venue that runs the Scoot and Skate, skate park at St Peter's Church, Tewkesbury Road, Cheltenham. Half pipes and ramps might not look like a safe haven to none-skaters, but for those who do this is their place.

Joe Burgess, a community champion at The Rock , recognised as outstanding at the recent No Child Left Behind Awards in Cheltenham, said: "It all started when a vicar who was working in the area wanted to set up something for young people that they could connect with. That was 10 years ago."

What has been at the core of its 'open to all' and 'inclusive' approach is being able to offer some of those youngsters who do not have their own scooters or equipment.

As with many activities, good equipment does not come cheap. And when its job is to be used neither does it last forever. Which is why donations like a recent injection of funding from the OPCC (Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner ) has made such a difference.

During his term of office police and crime commissioner for Gloucestershire, Martin Surl, made the decision to earmark £1 million annually as a fund for community focused charities, acknowledging that it was those on the ground already tackling the issues who would have the most impact for the greater good with any funding.

"They funded for us to get some fantastic new equipment," said Mr Burgess.

"As a result of the OPCC, we now have four new quite high-end scooters. Young people can now come in and immediately take part by using one of those. It is really positive. It means we run more inclusive sessions.

"For young people it is the experience of being able to take part, to belong. But we are also somewhere they can go where they can feel comfortable, where they can grow.

"They can build relationships and if they need to talk, or need support, they can get it."

"There might be people here from quite affluent, or stable family backgrounds and this is just where they come and skate and ride.

"For others The Rock is where they can come and talk about things - they might be dealing with their mum going to court, for example, or some other issue. Life can be difficult. There are staff here, but this is somewhere away from their parents.

"There are always going to be teenage issues - friendships issues, self-harm, drugs and alcohol-related stuff.

"There is a massive range of things that affect young people and this is just somewhere they can get away from that and be themselves, or talk about it, or get signposted to some support.

"It can go weeks here with no issues at all."

One long-term regular visitor to The Rock recently filled out a form - and when a staff member looked at his answer to a question 'Who do you trust?', his answer was 'my mum, family, the police and fire service and the people at The Rock, because they made me who I am today'.

"We did not expect that, but for him coming here four times a week after school sessions obviously helps. He is now one of our sponsored riders and he has responsibility for some of our sessions."