FOLLOWING the announcement of a major expansion at its flagship Speke facility, Ignite Padel—the North West’s premier padel operator—has launched a dedicated community initiative, bringing free coaching sessions to local schools across Merseyside and Cheshire.
2 of the Ignite Padel partners, Stephen Board and Thomas Lawton, returned to their former secondary schools, Woodchurch High School in Wirral and Childwall Sports & Science Academy in Liverpool, to introduce hundreds of students to the world's fastest-growing racket sport.
As part of the outreach, Stephen Board welcomed students from Woodchurch High School to Ignite Padel’s Cheshire Oaks site for an immersive four-week taster programme. Meanwhile, Thomas Lawton welcomed pupils from Childwall Sports & Science Academy for an intensive 3-day crash course, giving students from Year 7 through to Year 13 hands-on experience on the courts at the Speke site.
Stephen Board, Partner at Ignite Padel, commented:- "It has been incredible to welcome the students from Woodchurch High to our Cheshire Oaks venue. Growing up in the area, sports played such a huge role in my own development, so being able to give back to my old school and introduce the next generation to a sport as inclusive and fast-paced as padel is really special."
Thomas Lawton, Partner at Ignite Padel, added:- "It was fantastic to connect with Childwall Sports & Science Academy and see so much enthusiasm across all year groups. Padel is exploding in popularity globally, but for us, keeping local roots at the heart of our growth is essential. Seeing students pick up a racket for the first time and fall in love with the game is what it's all about."
The community programme comes during a transformational year for the operator. This summer, Ignite Padel’s flagship Speke venue will more than double in size—growing from 27,500 square feet to 56,000 square feet—making it the largest single padel facility in the United Kingdom upon completion in September 2026.
The ambitious expansion solidifies Liverpool’s position at the heart of the UK’s padel boom, combining world-class facilities with accessible grassroots opportunities for young people across the Region. For more information, visit this website.
