Rocket Padel Ilford will host a community open day on 2 May, offering free taster sessions for children and young people. The event will highlight the Heroes Academy, a coaching programme for kids aged four to 11, and the Access Padel initiative, designed to make the sport accessible for Deaf, disabled, and neurodivergent players.
Building community through sport
Oskar Wynne, club manager for Ilford, Bristol and Beckton, explained the purpose of the initiative: “At Rocket Padel we believe padel should be a sport for everyone. Our Heroes Academy and Access Padel programmes are an important part of the community at Rocket Padel Ilford. This open day is about giving more young people the chance to experience the joy of the game in a supportive and welcoming environment.”
Heroes Academy success
The Heroes Academy has already seen strong participation, with 132 children joining the most recent six-week term. On the open day, a free Heroes Kids taster session will run from 9.30am to 11am, led by qualified coaches.
Inclusive padel programme
Delivered in partnership with Access Sport, the Access Padel programme adapts sessions to meet each participant’s needs. Coach Tom Charnock uses demonstrations, visual cues, and Makaton to include non-verbal players, ensuring everyone can take part. A parent described the impact: “He’ll play padel like it’s never been played before. He does whatever he wants… but nobody looks, nobody judges – he’s just him.”
Breaking barriers
Jonny Fenner, development manager at Access Sport, highlighted the importance of inclusion: “We’re proud to support Rocket Padel in running Access Padel, an initiative that aligns perfectly with our mission to make inclusion the norm in community sport. By opening up padel to d/Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent young people, this programme is helping to break down barriers and create lasting community impact.” The open day aims to introduce more families to padel in a friendly setting, while reinforcing Rocket Padel’s commitment to accessibility and community engagement.
