‘This could become padel’s version of parkrun’

Soul Padel is offering free weekly padel sessions for local schools in a project they hope can become padel’s version of junior parkrun.

The north west-based operator will offer free courts, equipment and coaching to all primary and secondary schools in Stockport every Wednesday between 10am-12pm. All slots in the initial pilot period between January and March 2025 have already been booked.

Soul Padel recently linked up with the Stockport Shapes Alliance to host a special event to introduce PE Leads from 40 local primary schools to padel. Soul Padel founder Mark Hewlett shared insights into the sport’s rapid growth and accessibility and gave the participants the chance to play during a taster session at Soul Padel’s courts next to the town’s Decathlon store.

Stockport Shapes Alliance supports schools in developing and maintaining high-quality physical education, sport and physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle for all pupils. They played an instrumental role in the event, working with Dean Hardman, Soul Padel’s Participation and Sport Development Lead. This partnership unites both parties’ common goal of promoting active, healthy lifestyles for young people in Stockport.

Sport England figures show that 48% of children in England fail to meet the Chief Medical Officer’s recommended levels of physical activity of 60 minutes a day. Stockport has 103 primary schools and 40 secondary schools so the potential impact of the free padel initiative could be huge, in addition to the knock-on effect of growing sport in the community.

Soul Padel founder Mark told The Padel Paper: “We will commit to this initiative at every club we open. Our vision is that it’s a free offer which stimulates young people to get into a sport, a bit like junior parkrun. It’s a genuine attempt to build a new generation of players.”

Soul Padel hope to open at least four clubs in 2025 in Stockport, St Helens, Braehead in Glasgow and Bolton School – all of which will offer free Wednesday morning schools sessions. “We’re looking to build padel clubs that are embedded in their communities,” added Mark.

“We’ve been very clear from the launch of our site here in Stockport that we want padel to be for everyone, and we’re delighted that over recent months we’ve built a community here which is inclusive and vibrant. I firmly believe that padel courts should not be the exclusive domain of just one type of player. For us, a successful padel court is one where the widest possible range of players feel welcome, and that’s why I wanted to commit to donating courts for free to bring younger players in our local area into the game.”