Community initiative strengthens Soul Padel’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion across its growing network of clubs
Manchester, UK, 27 April 2026
Soul Padel has launched Play it Forward, a new model that enables councils, charities and community organisations to commission structured padel programmes designed around specific social outcomes.
Padel is one of the UK’s fastest-growing sports, but participation remains concentrated among those who already know how to access and organise play. Play it Forward has been created to address that gap by giving organisations a practical way to use padel to engage the audiences they support.
Play it Forward is a commissionable model. Programmes are co-designed with partner organisations and shaped around objectives such as engagement, confidence, wellbeing and creating positive community environments.
The model is already in delivery. Soul Padel has partnered with Stockport Youth Justice Service and Maverick Stars Trust to introduce padel to young people, recognising the role that participation in sport and being part of a community can play in supporting positive outcomes.
Soul Padel has also delivered sessions in partnership with St Helens Borough Council through the Department for Education’s Holiday Activities and Food programme, providing access to padel for children who may not otherwise have had the opportunity to take part.
Play it Forward is underpinned by an exclusive three-year partnership with Sue Morrison, whose work in inclusive and disability sport has shaped the design and delivery of programmes across Soul Padel.
Delivery is led by a specialist internal team, including Dean Hardman, combining programme design expertise with established relationships across councils and community organisations.
Funding has also now been secured through MENCAP’s Active Community network to deliver weekly padel sessions at Soul Padel St Helens for local people with learning disabilities, further expanding the reach of the model.
All sessions are delivered by DBS-checked, first aid trained and LTA-qualified coaches at accredited venues.
Mark Hewlett, CEO and Founder of Soul Padel, said: “Padel has grown quickly, but it hasn’t yet reached many of the communities that could benefit most.
Play it Forward is about changing that. It gives organisations a structured, proven way to use padel to deliver real outcomes, not just access to courts.
What makes it work is the combination of programme design, coaching expertise and delivery capability. That’s not something most operators are set up to do.”
Dean Hardman added:
“The difference with this kind of work is in how it’s delivered.
It’s not just about getting people on court. It’s about understanding the group in front of you and creating an environment where people feel comfortable, supported and able to take part.
When that’s done properly, you give people a positive experience of sport that works for them, often for the first time.”
Play it Forward forms part of Soul Padel’s wider approach to growing the game in a way that is accessible, inclusive and built for long-term participation.
About Soul Padel
Soul Padel is a UK-based padel operator focused on creating inclusive, community-driven spaces where people can meet, play and connect. Soul Padel partners with local authorities, schools, and like-minded organisations to make padel welcoming and accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. With a growing portfolio of clubs and a strong pipeline of new locations, Soul Padel is committed to supporting both physical and mental wellbeing through participation sport, while building vibrant social hubs at the heart of local communities.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Mark Hewlett
Email: mark@soulpadel.co.uk
Phone: 07961310078
Website: soulpadel.co.uk
