A registered charity as of 2016, the PSA Foundation is the charitable arm of the Professional Squash Association, which is the global governing body responsible for the administration of both men’s and women’s professional squash around the world.
Being the biggest platform in the sport, the PSA Tour is a great place to make sure we are growing squash in all the right ways and looking out for the wider communities. The PSA Foundation aims to support the growth of squash globally through community engagement, providing equal opportunity and player wellbeing.
All of our initiatives fall under these three pillars of objectives. That means:
SQUASH KIT DONATION & RECYLING INITIATIVE
Rebound is a PSA Foundation initiative to collect usable squash gear and send the donations across the world. We hand pick the programmes that receive Rebound donations so we know we’re sending squash gear to underserved areas that can’t afford the equipment. You can read more about this here.
LOCAL SCHOOL AND CLUB ACTIVATION AT TOURNAMENTS
Every PSA Tour tournament is a great platform to showcase our sport, inspiring players and introducing new juniors to our sport in style. We would like to see every tournament reaching out to local clubs and schools and inviting them for an introduction to our great game and the pro tour!
• Introductory coaching sessions
• Q & A’s with the pros
• Opportunities to watch pro squash
• Coaching clinics with the pros
TOURNAMENT LEGACY PROGRAMMES
Our goal is to be able to leave junior legacy programmes with every tournament on the PSA Tour. This will help bridge the gap of schools lacking the opportunity of an introduction to squash and create new membership at local clubs. Programmes are set up as Rackets Cubed affiliated initiatives.
PROGRAMMES WE SUPPORT
We support programmes established in underserved areas that have focus on supporting children from disadvantaged backgrounds. We do this by passing on donated squash gear, providing coaching resources, access to the pro tour and opportunities for talented players to compete professionally. Check out the programmes we support here.
THE WE ARE ONE FUND – PLAYER HARDSHIP
The ‘We Are One’ fund is a player-driven initiative which aims to bring the global squash community together to provide relief to the players that need urgent financial support following the COVID-19 pandemic and suspension of the PSA Tour.
Inspired by the generosity of our squash community, the PSA Foundation and the PSA created the “We are One” fund, providing relief to those players whose basic well-being and possibility of returning to the tour are directly threatened.
Over $130,000 has now been raised and distributed to players around the world. The ‘We Are One’ Fund will continue after the pandemic as a PSA Tour Player Hardship Fund.
PSA TOUR MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
At the end of March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the PSA Foundation fast-tracked a strong relationship with the UK’s largest provider of mental health services working exclusively with professional and elite sports participants. The purpose of this relationship is to fill the gap of mental health support within the challenging landscape of professional squash. A registered charity themselves, Sporting Chance have provide services for 24/7 counselling & educational support to create a readiness in squash to talk about mental health. Counselling sessions are funded by the PSA Foundation through the funds that we raise.
SQUASH UNIVERSITY
Squash University (SU) is designed to provide players with the tools they need to maximise the opportunities that come up during playing years and to help plan and prepare for life after squash.
- Hosting workshops and presentations with industry professionals
- Providing resources and links for career transitions and personal development
- A mentorship programme that supports career transitions at every stage of the player pathway
SQUASH FORWARD
A joint initiative between the World Squash Federation (WSF), Professional Squash Association (PSA) and PSA Foundation, we engage with the next generation of
squash players in order to give them the chance to help shape the future of the sport.
- Workshops and brainstorming sessions at junior opens
- Connecting with current pros as mentors and for guidance
INCLUSIVITY & EQUALITY AT ALL TIERS OF THE GAME
The PSA Tour is recognised for striving for parity and having equal prize money, however there is still a lower number of women who play both professionally and at the amateur level; we want to change that.
- Women and girl’s squash clinics at tournaments and clubs
- Supporting women’s and girl’s squash foundations
- Hosting talks, forums and networking events amongst inspirational female characters in squash and related industries to inspire and facilitate new projects
- Supporting national federations and marketing campaigns to increase participation among women and girls
To find out more about the PSA Foundation, donate or become a member, visit:
https://psafoundation.com/
