Exactly one year ago, Badminton England launched its 10-year strategy, “Badminton – A Sport for Everyone,” aimed at making badminton the most accessible and inclusive sport in England.
The first year of implementation has been both ambitious and challenging, focusing on two key priorities: engaging young people and promoting inclusion.
Thanks to our collective efforts, 421,400 young people are now playing badminton regularly, marking an increase of 30,000 from last year and 70,000 since the pandemic. We’ve relaunched the National Schools Competition, enhanced the Development Fund, and expanded our Young Leader Academy and National Youth Voice Forum, empowering the next generation to engage actively in the badminton community. Our emerging young athletes are also making strides on the international stage.
While there’s still much work to be done, the enthusiasm for badminton among young people is evident, with our flagship junior program, Shuttle Stars, set to launch next year. Inclusion is central to our mission, and now 35% of our affiliated clubs welcome disabled individuals, up from 22% in 2023-24.
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In May 2024, we held the Disability Junior National Championships, establishing a new pathway supported by eight regional disability coaches, while 311 new disabled juniors and adults experienced badminton for the first time.
As part of our role with GB, we submitted our Diversity & Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP), which aligns with our EDI Strategy and will guide our initiatives in the coming years.
March 2024 marked the 125th anniversary of the YONEX All England Open Badminton Championships, the oldest top-level badminton tournament in the world. Our commitment to young people and inclusion was highlighted through the enhanced Birmingham Legacy project, particularly the Racket Pack Festival, which engaged ten schools and thousands of local youths.
The Commonwealth Games Legacy Project allowed us to expand “No Strings Badminton,” funded by Sport England, into underrepresented communities, initially in the West Midlands and then beyond, delivering 365 new sessions.
This year was also significant for the Olympics and Paralympics, with Dan Bethell and Krysten Coombs returning from Paris 2024 with Paralympic silver medals—an achievement we celebrate with pride.
Reflecting on the past year, Badminton England Chief Executive Sue Storey stated, “I am thrilled with our progress this year. By collaborating closely with our community, we’ve truly put them at the heart of everything we do. Our plan was ambitious, and I am immensely proud of everyone—staff, athletes, coaches, and the wider community—who have worked tirelessly on this strategy. Badminton is indeed a sport for everyone, and we’re demonstrating the incredible progress we can achieve together. Thank you to everyone who made this year special; I look forward to what we will accomplish in the next year and beyond.”
