In 2024, the PSA Foundation has continued to use squash as a catalyst for positive change: making a difference in the lives of players of all levels across the squash community.
Let’s look back at all that we have achieved this year and the impact we have been able to make!
We held our first ever Squash Summit!
The highlight of the year came when the Inaugural Squash Summit got underway during the 2024 British Open, with the aim of bringing together various stakeholders in the squash community to share insights and collaborate on the future of our game.
The squash world was united like never before. Attendees travelled from 23 different countries and represented 83 different organisations including, clubs, federations and squash for development organisations (SDOs).
A particular focus was on the celebrated inclusion in the LA28 Olympics and how the squash community must harness the momentum leading up to it. Of the attendees, 91.5% said they had more clarity on the opportunities the Olympics brings.
The Summit signalled an exciting new chapter for our sport, setting the stage for groundbreaking initiatives and collaborations that promise to elevate squash, inspiring growth, innovation and a shared passion for the game. Over three quarters of attendees said they were very likely to apply insights gained from the summit to their own work in squash.
Next year we look forward to taking the Summit to El Gouna, where it will be held alongside the El Gouna International. The focus will be: “discovering the secrets to the success of Egyptian squash” and promises to continue the transformation.
Don’t miss your opportunity to be part of this journey! Register your interest below
Women In Coaching Fund Courses Take Place In Egypt
Launched in 2023, in collaboration with the World Squash Federation (WSF),the Women In Coaching Fund is a pathway for more women to participate in coaching.
This year, it travelled to Egypt to run alongside the prestigious Black Ball Open. Squash legend Omneya Abdel Kawy took part in the events, sharing her wisdom and providing inspiration for all those involved.
By the end of the course, 14 Arab-speaking women had earned coaching qualifications, joining a growing community of 43 female coaches trained through the initiative.
These incredible women are paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable squash world, becoming role models for generations to come.
Activations at PSA Events
A core objective of the PSA Foundation is to leave a legacy wherever the professional tour travels to.
To that end, we continued our engagement with local communities alongside PSA events. In leveraging the biggest stages and their inspirational platforms, we have been introducing the sport to the next generation of young players.
In England, this amounted to over 1,000 children across 5 tournaments, many from underserved communities, who were given the chance to experience the joy of the sport for the first time.
Women’s Squash Week
Women’s Squash Week is an international campaign that aims to celebrate and promote female participation in Squash.
The PSA Foundation is proud to have led this significant awareness week. This year’s theme: Championing Women’s Voices.
Throughout the week, we shared stories from some of the biggest names in Women’s squash.
Raneem El Welily, Nour El Tayeb and Camille Serme all spoke of their challenges and the resilience needed in balancing motherhood and competing on the World Tour.
We also heard from Gina Kennedy who reflected on the importance of women’s spaces and how clubs can become more inclusive for female players.
Our Women’s Squash Week campaign proved to be highly successful. Shared videos were viewed by over 279,000 people and registered over 150,000 impressions on social media.
It was a powerful reminder of the importance of amplifying women’s voices in our sport.
Squash Community completes a 24 hour squash challenge: Squashathon
In November, the PSAF team and all our participants battled through the night to complete the 24h squash challenge. Hosted by Pontefract Squash Club, the fundraiser brought together a wide variety of players from the squash community.
Professionals James Willstrop and Pat Rooney opened the challenge, with Pontefract Women’s session and LGBT+ squash also taking part.
Through our collective efforts, we celebrated of the power of squash to unite, inspire, and make a difference.
We encourage clubs everywhere to get involved and run their own fundraisers, to help support the PSA Foundation make a difference in the squash community
Grant Funding for Squash for Development
This year, the PSA Foundation proudly secured grant funding from two partners, enabling us to support life-changing initiatives across our Squash Development Organizations (SDOs):
The Souter Charitable Trust funded Squash Dreamers, allowing the organization to provide nutritious meals for the girls during every session throughout the year. The Trust have confirmed they will continue their financial support in 2025, giving longer term stability to the Squash Dreamers food program.
The Britford Bridge Trust provided vital funding to three of our partner organizations:
- Egoli Squash delivered a full year of English and Maths tuition, equipping young learners with essential academic skills.
- Khelshala ensured children received healthy meals at every session, fostering their physical and mental well-being.
- Squash Dreamers covered key coaching and court fees, offering their young athletes consistent sporting opportunities.
Many of the children in our SDOs face limited access to nutritious food on a daily basis.
Thanks to the PSA Foundation’s success in securing these grants, we have not only provided critical educational and athletic opportunities but also ensured that these programs deliver healthy meals – often a vital source of nourishment for the children we support.
This achievement underscores the ability of squash to address fundamental needs and empower communities.
Advocacy Campaigns
As a major platform in the world of squash, we highlighted several key topics and awareness weeks which championed a range of voices! Over the year, we registered an average of 146,736 impressions per campaign across all social media.
On International Women’s Day and Women’s Squash Week, we showcased stories of female participation through all levels of our sport.
In Pride Month, we highlighted LGBT+ voices ensuring our sport is on a path to inclusivity for all.
To promote Mental Health awareness, we shared stories from tour players about their challenges with mental health, as well as making players aware of the importance of opening up to others with Time to Talk Day.
Mental Health Support for Players
These services continued to provide for current and retired professional squash players competing on the PSA Tour, fully funded by the PSA Foundation.
Over the past year, Sporting Chance have provided 87 counselling sessions for players, designed to move individuals forward to a place of balanced emotional wellbeing.
Rebound Impact
ReBound is our initiative that collects usable squash gear and distributes the donations across the world to communities that need them.
Since its inception, Rebound has now sent over 6k squash items. This year we have expanded the program with ReBound Collection points in the UK. Clubs across the country are now involved in our recycling program, boosting participation in an environmentally sustainable way.
2024 was a year of triumph, growth, and innovation for squash. With LA28 on the horizon and an ever-growing network of passionate supporters, 2025 promises to be even more electrifying. Thank you to all who have supported our work over the past year, we look forward to continuing to make a difference in the sport!
