CONNECTING the NATION

Physical activity sector pioneer and Soul Padel board advisor, David Stalker, explains why padel holds the key to building a more active, connected nation

fter more than three decades working across health, fitness and leisure, one question continues to define my career: how do we get more people, more active, more often?

Despite progress in many areas, the UK’s inactivity crisis remains one of our greatest collective challenges. It’s not just a health issue — it’s a social one. The impact reaches far beyond the NHS balance sheet, affecting wellbeing, productivity and community cohesion. For all the campaigns and initiatives that have come and gone, many people still feel that traditional sport and fitness simply aren’t for them.

To change that, we need to offer activities that are instinctively inclusive, social and joyful — where the first step feels easy and the barriers to entry are low. Which is why I believe padel could be one of the most powerful catalysts we’ve seen in decades.

A sport that welcomes everyone

I first encountered padel in Portugal a few years ago. What struck me immediately wasn’t just the pace and energy of the game, but the diversity of the players. Four people of completely different ages, abilities and backgrounds, all laughing, competing and connecting. It was fast, tactical and fun — but above all, it was social.

That’s the magic of padel. It doesn’t feel like exercise in the traditional sense, yet it delivers all the physical and mental benefits of movement. It attracts people who might never set foot in a gym or join a running club. It’s accessible, engaging and easy to pick up — everything a mass participation activity needs to be.

According to the LTA, more than 400,000 people played padel in Britain in 2024, up from just 15,000 in 2019. Awareness has nearly doubled year-on year, with almost half of UK adults now familiar with the sport. Behind those statistics lies something even more significant: genuine momentum.

Beyond courts and clubs

But the success of padel won’t be defined by the number of courts we build. It will depend on the kind of experiences we create around them — the environments, programmes and partnerships that turn curiosity into commitment.

That’s where I’ve been particularly encouraged by the work of Soul Padel and others who see the sport as a community platform rather than a commercial product. Their initiatives — such as Soul Timers for over-50s, Soul Sisters for women, and What’s That Racket? for schools — are designed to reach people who’ve stepped away from sport or never quite felt part of it in the first place.

The results speak for themselves: older adults rediscovering confidence, women finding inclusive spaces to be active, and children engaging with movement in a way that feels fresh and fun. It’s a reminder that participation grows not through marketing campaigns, but through belonging.

Padel sits at the intersection of everything our sector has been striving for — movement, connection and fun

The power of partnership

Padel’s greatest strength may lie in its ability to bridge sectors. Local authorities, universities, and private operators are already seeing the benefits of collaboration.

At Stockport, the Soul Padel facility has quickly become a community hub, with thousands of players returning regularly and forming lasting social networks around the game. Loughborough University has woven padel into student life — blending wellbeing, recreation and competition in a way that reflects how the next generation wants to be active. And in St Helens, collaboration between local government and the private sector has delivered a high-quality public facility directly aligned with local health goals.

Each example reinforces the same point: when we design with inclusion and connection in mind, participation follows naturally — and commercial sustainability follows participation.

A movement with momentum

The pace of growth is impressive, but more important is the type of growth we’re seeing. Padel isn’t an elitist trend or a passing craze. It’s an activity that brings together different generations, communities and motivations. It can thrive in city centres, campuses and leisure parks alike. And perhaps most significantly, it appeals to people who’ve long felt left out of Britain’s fitness culture.

After 35 years in this industry, I’ve rarely seen a sport that blends accessibility, social value and commercial potential quite so effectively. Padel sits at the intersection of everything our sector has been striving for — movement, connection and fun.

A shared opportunity

What excites me most isn’t the growth charts, but the sound of laughter from the courts. It’s the conversations between people who’d never otherwise meet, the friendships formed through a shared activity, the simple joy of play. That’s where the real transformation begins.

If we’re serious about building a more active, connected nation, we need to back activities that break down barriers and bring people together. Padel has the power to do that — but only if we approach it collectively.

The invitation is open to local authorities, universities, developers and operators alike: let’s make this movement part of the UK’s long-term active future. Because when people meet, play and connect, the health of the nation improves — and that’s a goal worth chasing.

DAVID STALKER has spent the past 35 years working across the sport, physical activity and fitness sector. His career in the industry spans private operators, local authority leisure centres, global suppliers and policy bodies. He joined Soul Padel as board advisor in March 2025, to support growth and expansion. In October 2025, he was also named chair of industry body, ukactive.