Biddenden Squash Club’s community-first approach has made such a positive impact they have won England Squash’s Club-of-the-Year award.

Over the last 12 months, Biddenden, a two-court facility, have grown their membership to more than 260 players, 100 of which are juniors, and progress shows no sign of wavering.

“There’s a real sense of community at Biddenden,” said head coach Tom Swain, who collected the award at the British Open from Commonwealth Games gold medallist Gina Kennedy.

“We don’t focus on names on boards and trophies. We’re about socialising. That’s what makes everybody feel welcome at the club.”

Running mixed-ability team squash, where players of all abilities are encouraged to give matchplay a go, has been instrumental in seeing the club thrive.

“We’ve taken the fear of losing away by using an every-point-counts format and ensuring each player is matched with an opponent of a similar level,” Swain added.

“So even if you lose a game 11-8, you’ve still earned eight points for your team, which is a great feeling, especially for beginners.”

This inclusive approach helped member Louise Hollamby, who has a developmental condition called pachygyria, overcome adversity to play squash at a junior session every week. Her progress caught the attention of England Squash last year when she was named Rising Star of the Year for 2021.

“The junior group Louise is part of is awesome,” Swain said. “Thanks to their kindness and patience, she doesn’t care whether she wins or loses.”

Alongside the mixed-ability team tournaments, Biddenden run an ever-popular women’s session on a Monday night, which now has more than 25 members attending each week.

The club also have a Racket Tots session for 2-4-year-olds, helping mums meet new people and even try a new sport.

“One of our coaches, Lorna Lancashire, had never heard of squash until a friend invited her along to one of our Racket Tots sessions,” Swain recalled.

“Fast forward a few years and she’s now coaching five other women from Racket Tots because they saw how much the kids loved playing. And because the parents are invested in the club, we’re more likely to retain the juniors.

“It’s just incredible that we’ve won the award. To get this level of recognition despite not having a cohort of elite players should be inspiring to other clubs.”

For more information on Biddenden Squash Club, visit their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram, search for Biddenden Squash Club or email info@biddendensquash.co.uk