Squash has a growing and deserved reputation as a sport that achieves positive social change and helps address inequalities in communities.
In recent years, our sport has started to recognise and unlock its potential as a vehicle to improve people's lives (particularly those of children) through better health, mental wellbeing, education, nutrition, leadership skills, employment, community cohesion, social inclusion and much more.
Across the world, squash facilities and organisations, both large and small, are linking up with charities, schools and community organisations to make a life-changing impact on thousands of beneficiaries.
When people from disadvantaged backgrounds are given the opportunity to go on a squash court and hit a ball, they quickly discover the benefits of fun, fitness, mental health, learning new skills and and making new friendships. When a squash programme is linked with partners who add education, employability and leadership skills, that's when the whole package becomes extremely powerful indeed.
Some of these programmes are linked together in a network called the Squash and Education Alliance (SEA) with 20 based in the USA and five elsewhere. Together, these programmes support over 2,500 young people in under-served communities at any one time.
Using squash as a 'hook', these non-profit organisations engage disadvantaged and ethnically diverse young people and give them opportunities in education they would otherwise be denied. High percentages of SEA students graduate high school and get into college. Over 265 have gone on to play on college squash teams, 40 alumni now work on SEA member programmes (as coaches etc) and three have become professional squash players.
Significantly (thanks to major private donations), these programmes have spawned new squash facilities including Steel City in Pittsburgh, SquashWise in Baltimore, CitySquash in the Bronx, SquashBusters Lawrence in Boston, and Portland Community Squash in Maine. SquashBridge Community Facility in Bridgeport, Connecticut will soon be added to that list.
The SEA has become a strong vehicle through which squash infrastructure is growing across the US. Olympic inclusion will only accelerate the growth of this important work.
Elsewhere in the world, there are many similar initiatives which use squash to effect change in individuals and communities. Many of these are supported by the PSA Foundation which uses the collective term 'Squash for Development Organisations' (an adaptation of the term 'Sport for Development' which describes the use of sport as a vehicle for positive social outcomes).
The Squash for Development Organisations include the likes of Calder Community Squash in northern England, which works with populations from local mosques, refugees, young people from low-income families and people with disabilities. It opens up access to squash; firstly by bringing the game to the people with portable squash gear, then offering a clear pathway to their local facilities.
In Malaysia, the Nicol David Organisation empowers girls and boys through sport and education. Its Little Legends programme supports mid to low income families in Kuala Lumpur with an after-school programme that provides squash training, English tutoring, life skills workshops and nutrition plans.
Squash Dreamers, based in Amman, Jordan, gives professional level squash training to young refugee and underprivileged girls, working on their physical and mental health, as well as supporting their academic studies to prepare them for future opportunities including scholarships.
Others Squash for Development Organisation supported by the PSA Foundation are in Argentina, South Africa, Canada, El Salvador, the UK, Israel, India, Brazil and Colombia. You can read about the work of all the projects here.
Across the world, squash facilities and organisations are the catalyst for far-reaching projects which have an impact that goes far beyond merely introducing people to the benefits of playing squash. But squash is the vital 'hook' that engages the under-privileged beneficiaries, giving them transformational life opportunities that they would otherwise be denied.
By Mike Dale
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