Minister praises inspirational badminton initiative

Sports Minister Tracey Crouch has seen first hand how badminton is helping inspire a new generation of players to get active and play sport

Badminton England’s SmashUp! initiative is currently on a nationwide ‘PE Takeover Tour’ to inspire more pupils to take up the sport.

Aimed at 12-17-year-olds, SmashUp! challenges the traditional way of playing badminton by focusing on the fun and social side of the sport.

Miss Crouch said: “It was great to see how badminton is inspiring young people to take up the sport in schools, encouraging them to get active.”

“The pupils seemed to really enjoy taking part and I hope the SmashUp! tour leaves a lasting legacy for the sport.”

Adrian Christy, Badminton England’s Chief Executive, said: “We were very pleased that the Minister took time from her busy schedule to see the work we are doing to engage and inspire young people to play more sport.”

“The message from London 2012 was to inspire a generation and through the SmashUp! programme we are certainly doing that, and seeing more and more young people, especially teenage girls, play badminton on a regular basis at schools and venues across the country.”

Steve Morrison, Kingsdale Foundation School’s Headteacher, said: “The SmashUp! initiative has proved very popular with our students and we were delighted to show the Minister how all of the sports we play at the school are having a major impact on student engagement, self-esteem and on our attainment and achievement levels.”

The nationwide ‘PE Takeover Tour’ of 18 secondary and middle schools is due to end next month in Lambeth. There are currently 1,600 schools nationwide delivering SmashUp! on a weekly basis, with over 40,000 pupils getting involved.