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 probably 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 wherein we now have delivered in opposition to two key strategic priorities: younger folks and inclusion.
Our collective give attention to partaking younger folks implies that 421,400 younger folks are actually enjoying recurrently, a rise of 30,000 from the earlier yr and 70,000 because the pandemic.
Now we have relaunched the Nationwide Colleges Competitors, deepened the influence of the Growth Fund and expanded our Younger Chief Academy and Nationwide Youth Voice Discussion board to permit the subsequent technology to take an energetic function within the badminton neighborhood. And we’re specializing in our subsequent technology of younger gifted athletes, who’re making good progress on the worldwide stage.
There stays a lot to do, however there may be clearly a wholesome urge for food for badminton amongst younger folks with our flagship junior programme Shuttle Stars launching subsequent yr.

Shuttle Stars will see contributors 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 all the pieces we do and now 35% of our affiliated golf equipment welcome disabled folks, in comparison with 22% in 2023-24.
The Incapacity Junior Nationwide Championships had 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 function, we submitted our Range & Inclusion Motion Plan (DIAP), aligned with our EDI Technique, which is able to inform our supply over the subsequent few years.
In March 2024, we celebrated the 125-year anniversary of the YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships, the oldest prime stage badminton event on the earth.

England’s prime gamers have proven an actual dedication to giving again to the neighborhood, with Annie Lado paying a particular go to to Westgate Badminton Centre
Our dedication to the dual pillars of younger folks and inclusion had been encapsulated by the improved Birmingham Legacy venture and notably the Racket Pack Competition, which engaged ten colleges and hundreds of children from the native space.
The Commonwealth Video games Legacy Undertaking 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 a wide range of different areas and 365 new classes had been delivered.
It has additionally, after all, 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 Government Sue Storey mentioned: “I’m completely delighted with the progress we now have made during the last yr, working intently with our neighborhood we actually have put our thriving neighborhood on the coronary heart of all the pieces we do.
“We knew our plan was bold and we knew we must work arduous to attain, and I’m immensely pleased with everybody; employees, athletes, coaches and the broader neighborhood, who’ve labored so arduous on our technique. Badminton – a Sport for Everybody, and we’re displaying how a lot progress might be made once we work collectively, thanks to everybody who has made this primary yr so particular, I can’t wait to see what we are going to obtain within the subsequent yr and past.”