In schools across Brixton and Stockwell, pickleball has been part of the timetable for two years. It is delivered by a charitable foundation, Lambeth Pickleball: Pickleball for All, whose aim is to use the sport as a tool for learning, coordination and social mobility.
The foundation is led by Steve, Howard and Emmanuel. Its work has been steady rather than loud: building relationships with schools, securing equipment and running coaching programmes that go beyond a one-off session.
Three schools, one programme
- Ark Evelyn Grace Academy: long-term training programmes that give pupils continuity as they develop.
- Bishop Thomas Grant Secondary School: the latest addition, taking the programme into secondary education.
- St John's Angell Town Church of England Primary School: bringing the sport to young children in Brixton.
Why pickleball
The foundation's case rests on how the sport works for particular groups of children.
For children from neurodiverse backgrounds, it says, pickleball offers structured, focused activity in short, manageable bursts. The court is small, the rules are clear and every shot gives immediate feedback, which can help children who find the unpredictability of larger team sports difficult.
For children from lower-income backgrounds, the appeal is access. A paddle, a set of balls and a sports hall that already exists are enough to start, without the equipment costs or infrastructure that surround many other sports. The foundation tailors its sessions to both groups, using the sport as the method rather than only the goal.
Sam
Sam came through the schools programme and has become a familiar presence on court in South London. People who have watched him develop say he has done remarkably well.
His progress is what the foundation hopes to repeat when young people who do not always get access to sport are given equipment, coaching, continuity and time.
“An immense amount of young talent” – Lambeth Pickleball, on South London
The foundation says the main constraint now is venues. Without enough high-quality places to play, it is hard to develop players to the level their talent deserves, and it would like local authorities to take a more active part in giving pickleball the space it has earned.
What has changed
A private corporate sponsorship has recently allowed the foundation to scale up: more schools, more equipment and more sessions. It also acknowledges that it has not told its own story well enough. The work has been happening for two years, and the wider pickleball community has heard little about it.
Why it matters to UK pickleball
The sport is growing quickly in the UK, but growth is rarely even. New sports tend to reach communities that already have resources, connections and access first, and the children who could gain most are often the last reached.
Lambeth Pickleball is working against that pattern, in inner-city schools and with children who face real barriers. For them the sport is a way to find connection and belonging, and a route to becoming the next generation of community leaders.
How to support the work
The foundation is looking for:
- Volunteers to give time and expertise to sessions, coaching and delivery.
- Corporate partners who want to invest in community impact in South London through sport.
- Donors who can help fund equipment, sessions and expansion into more schools.
The foundation says every contribution goes towards getting more paddles into more children's hands across Lambeth.
Find Lambeth Community Pickleball Club
Foundation: Lambeth Pickleball: Pickleball for All
Location: South London, with schools in Brixton, Stockwell and Lambeth
Schools: Ark Evelyn Grace Academy, Bishop Thomas Grant Secondary School, St John's Angell Town Church of England Primary School
To get involved: Contact the foundation through the Instagram link on its Pickleball Directory listing
Find the club on The Pickleball Directory.
Schools, organisations and individuals interested in bringing the programme to their community should get in touch with the foundation directly.
