Day one of the opening Pro Am Padel Tour event of 2025 kicked off with a flurry of activity to engage a range of community groups in padel, delivered in partnership with the LTA.
A full and varied day of inclusive padel sessions at Rocket Padel Beckton in East London involved local primary schools, clubs, community organisations and charities, with more than 200 children and adults introduced to the sport.
Pupils from North Beckton Primary School enjoyed a padel session with the Jason Manford Padel Academy led by the comedian himself.
The day also included a Padel & Prams coaching session for new mums, with their babies looked after in a temporary ‘Baby Zone’ on an adjecent court. The coaching was led by GB international Victoria Nicholas (who is herself pregnant) and co-founder Emma Powell.
Emma (pictured below, right) said: “It’s been great to bring more new mums together here at Rocket Padel Beckton, introduce them to padel and give them a safe space to get exercise, have fun, make friends and get out of the house, as we know isolation can be a big thing for new mums.”
There was also an adaptive padel exhibition for children and young adults with disabilities from Newham Ability Camp led by GB No.1 female wheelchair player Kristen Paskin and men’s No.4 Louis Telford.
Kristen (pictured below, right) said: “Everyone left the court today with a smile — and that says it all. This is what the padel community is all about: bringing people together, having fun, and showing the world that sport has the power to inspire and uplift, no matter who you are. It was a privilege to be part of such a special event.”
Further sessions saw children from nearby Scott Wilkie Primary, Gallions Primary and Southern Road Primary schools introduced to padel along with young people from Greenhouse Sports, Rackets Cubed and the West Ham United Foundation, plus players from a local LGBTQ+ group.
“I loved it!” said 10-year-old Samiya, a pupil at Southern Road Primary. “It was my first time playing this sport. We were talking about it all the way here and wondering what it was, and it was super fun.”
Her friend Tuyae, 10, added: “We had fun games and competitions straight away. We will definitely try it again. I can’t wait!”
Pro Am Padel Tour, the LTA and Rocket Padel have worked together to ensure there are follow-on opportunities for all the day’s participants, to ensure their experience of padel isn’t just a one-off.
The primary school pupils were all given a voucher offering two further opportunities to play at Rocket Padel Beckton or Ilford free of charge. The participating schools and community groups were also invited to join the LTA Youth Schools programme which gives them a £250 voucher to spend on equipment and/or coaching.
LTA Padel Manager Steve Yeardley (pictured above, right) said: “Today was to give under-served communities opportunities to experience padel for the first time. It’s about getting rackets in hands of people who just haven’t had that first chance.
“We all know they’re going to leave with a huge smile – as everyone does after they’ve played padel – but it’s crucial we then give them the opportunity to come back and deepen their involvement with the sport.
“We know we’ve got a lot more work to do in this space, but partnering with Jason Manford Padel Academy and Pro Am raises awareness and gives us the capacity to kickstart this work, and we’re working really hard to bring more and more operators with us on this journey.”
