25 September 2024
Precisely one yr in the past, Badminton England launched ‘Badminton – A Sport for Everybody’ – the brand new 10-year technique for badminton in England.
The technique is the centrepiece of our imaginative and prescient for badminton to develop into essentially the most accessible and inclusive sport in England.
The primary yr of the implementation of that technique has been a busy, bold and difficult one through which we now have delivered towards two key strategic priorities: younger individuals and inclusion.
Our collective deal with partaking younger individuals signifies that 421,400 younger individuals are actually enjoying repeatedly, a rise of 30,000 from the earlier yr and 70,000 because the pandemic.
Now we have relaunched the Nationwide Faculties Competitors, deepened the influence of the Improvement Fund and expanded our Younger Chief Academy and Nationwide Youth Voice Discussion board to permit the following technology to take an energetic position within the badminton group. And we’re specializing in our subsequent technology of younger proficient athletes, who’re making good progress on the worldwide stage.
There stays a lot to do, however there’s clearly a wholesome urge for food for badminton amongst younger individuals with our flagship junior programme Shuttle Stars launching subsequent yr.
Shuttle Stars will see individuals aged 5-11 get pleasure from a enjoyable collection of programs to develop and enhance their badminton abilities
Now we have positioned inclusion on the coronary heart of every little thing we do and now 35% of our affiliated golf equipment welcome disabled individuals, in comparison with 22% in 2023-24.
The Incapacity Junior Nationwide Championships have been delivered in Could 2024, delivering a brand new construction to underpin our pathway, with eight regional incapacity coaches supporting that construction, whereas 311 new disabled juniors and adults have tried badminton for the primary time.
As a part of our GB position, we submitted our Variety & Inclusion Motion Plan (DIAP), aligned with our EDI Technique, which is able to inform our supply over the following few years.
In March 2024, we celebrated the 125-year anniversary of the YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships, the oldest high stage badminton match on the planet.
England’s high gamers have proven an actual dedication to giving again to the group, with Annie Lado paying a particular go to to Westgate Badminton Centre
Our dedication to the dual pillars of younger individuals and inclusion have been encapsulated by the improved Birmingham Legacy venture and notably the Racket Pack Competition, which engaged ten faculties and hundreds of kids from the native space.
The Commonwealth Video games Legacy Venture allowed us to increase ‘No Strings Badminton’, funded by Sport England, into new and under-represented communities. The venture initially centered on the West Midlands however expanded into quite a lot of different areas and 365 new periods have been delivered.
It has additionally, in fact, been an Olympic and Paralympic yr with Dan Bethell and Krysten Coombs each coming back from Paris 2024 with Paralympic silver medals – an achievement we’re extremely pleased with.
Reflecting on the previous yr, Badminton England Chief Govt Sue Storey stated: “I’m completely delighted with the progress we now have made over the past yr, working intently with our group we actually have put our thriving group on the coronary heart of every little thing we do.
“We knew our plan was bold and we knew we must work laborious to realize, and I’m immensely pleased with everybody; employees, athletes, coaches and the broader group, who’ve labored so laborious on our technique. Badminton – a Sport for Everybody, and we’re exhibiting how a lot progress might be made after we work collectively, thanks to everybody who has made this primary yr so particular, I can’t wait to see what we’ll obtain within the subsequent yr and past.”