Trustees of the newly created CIO “London Squash” together with England Squash Chair Mark Jeffreys, ES President Paul Millman and London Sport representative (Project Officer) Bolaji Williams attended the recent PSA London Squash Classic held at Alexandra Palace for its formal launch.
London Squash (CIO) is a unique collaboration set up by England Squash and the county associations which have London Boroughs (33) in their territory namely Essex Surrey, Kent and Middlesex.
The objectives of London Squash are as follows:
- To promote physical activity and decrease health inequalities utilising squash as an engagement tool for those people living in London
- To initiate and oversee projects for the development of physical activities using squash
- To examine and develop the use(s) of non-traditional space for racket-based activities across London
London Squash (LS) CIO already has an established partnership with the London Youth Games Foundation and in liaison with the LYG is responsible for the effective delivery of the annual LYG Squash Competition (Qualifiers and Finals) and for showcasing squash based activities using mini walls, portable courts, appropriate rackets/balls etc at the various LYG Inspire and Adapted Inspire Festivals in liaison with SGO’s Borough Officers and local schools held in parks, activation zones, tied in with specific community engagement projects.
Furthermore, partnerships are being developed with the London Marathon Foundation and London Sport, Girls in Motion (CIC) and the 33 London Borough sports officers to examine how the use of non-traditional space can support one of more of the following audiences to lead active and healthy lives:
- Children and young people
- Mixed Ability Sessions
- People from ethnically diverse groups
- People from lower socio-economic groups
- Women and girls
- Older people (65+)
At the London Classic Trustee Steph Campos (from Middlesex) invited 30+ women to watch top level squash after having attended a Women’s participation festival beforehand at the Coolhurst Club. A mixed ability session also took place using portable courts in a designated area at Alexandra Palace.
Above, left to right: Tim Taylor, Middlesex Squash Chair and London Squash Trustee;
Bolaji Williams (London Sport Project Officer; Chris Vine London Squash Development Director
