Held at Soul Padel’s newly opened courts at Loughborough University, the Soul Sisters Social X EmpowerHER session introduced a welcoming and inclusive space for women to meet, play, and connect through the sport. The two-hour social play session, now set to run weekly, was attended by GB padel player and Soul Padel ambassador Vic Nicholas, currently ranked 5th in the UK, and opened with an inspiring Q&A featuring Vic, hosted by Libby Fletcher, National Performance Pathway Manager at the LTA.
The Soul Sisters initiative, launched nationally by Soul Padel at the start of 2025, was created to inspire more women to pick up a padel racket. This comes in response to recent participation insights, which revealed that while padel has been growing rapidly in the UK, the percentage of male players increased from 60% in January 2024 to 70% in January 2025. The EmpowerHER programme, Loughborough University’s annual initiative, similarly aims to drive female participation in sport at all levels.
Speaking at the event, Vic Nicholas said: “Padel is an incredible sport that brings people together, and it’s fantastic to see initiatives like Soul Sisters and EmpowerHER making sure that more women have the opportunity to be part of this movement. The atmosphere today was amazing, and I can’t wait to see more women stepping onto the court each week.”
Mark Hewlett, CEO and Founder of Soul Padel, commented: “Padel is a sport for everyone, and it’s vital that as it grows, it brings women with it. Soul Sisters is about making sure women feel confident stepping onto the court, and today’s event was just the beginning for Loughborough. We’re thrilled to be working alongside EmpowerHER to make a real impact here.”
The Soul Sisters Social will now be held weekly at Soul Padel Loughborough University, providing a welcoming space for women of all abilities to enjoy padel, socialise, and build confidence in the sport.
About Soul Padel
For more information on Soul Padel and upcoming events, visit soulpadel.co.uk.
Mark Hewlett
Email: mark@soulpadel.co.uk
Phone: 07961310078
Website: soulpadel.co.uk
