From a £500 grant to national silverware - a game-changing partnership

What began as a £500 grant in 2022 has grown into one of the most inspiring school-club squash partnerships in the country.

At Tunbridge Wells Squash Club, the ambition from the club and coach Declan Wainwright was clear from the outset. To work more closely with local schools and increase participation in squash. While the club had already been running Squash Stars sessions for primary-aged children, there was a strong desire to reach secondary schools too. That ambition led to the application for Phil Hancey funding.

Bennett Memorial Diocesan School was the natural choice. The club already had a core group of five or six players from the school, alongside a strong existing relationship and supportive school contact. With a clear sense that the school was open to introducing new sports, conversations quickly began with the assistant head teacher. Meetings focused on the structure of the programme, safeguarding, and shared objectives, including the longer-term goal of establishing a school team that could compete in tournaments.

The response from students was immediate. More than 40 young people applied for just eight places on the first five-week after-school club. Among the regular participants were four complete beginners, and by the end of the programme three had joined the club to continue developing their game. Demand was so high that an additional Sunday introductory session was introduced, bringing in even more players and further strengthening the pathway into club membership.

From those first sessions, momentum built quickly.

In 2025, Bennett entered two teams into the National Schools Championships in the Key Stage 3 mixed event. For a state school with no squash facilities of its own, reaching the national finals in Birmingham in their first year was a remarkable achievement. The team went on to finish third in the country, with one player having only been involved in the sport for four months.

By 2026, the programme had grown even further. Bennett returned with both Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 mixed teams. The KS3 squad finished second in the country after an outstanding run, while the KS4 team secured bronze. Across both age groups, the players were a credit to their school, showing exceptional attitude, sportsmanship and commitment.

A key factor in that success has been the partnership between school and club. Every autumn, introductory sessions for Years 7 and 8 continue to bring new students into the sport, with around 35-40% progressing into the junior academy over the past two years. All seven players from the medal-winning squads are now regular members of the academy and continue to be coached at the club.

Looking ahead, the focus is firmly on building the pathway. Declan plans to continue attracting new Year 7 and 8 players while creating a stronger route into school representation, including dedicated coaching for the team development squad and friendly fixtures against local schools.

For other clubs, Declan's advice is simple: look closely at your junior membership and understand which schools your players attend. That existing connection can provide the ideal starting point for a successful school partnership. Engaging parents can also be a major driver in helping relationships with schools grow.

Above all, don’t be afraid to reach out with a clear plan, clear objectives and a structure that works for the school. This partnership shows just how powerful that can be.

Do you need some funding to turn your ideas into reality? Find out more about our Phil Hancey funding and see how it could help you today.