Badders in the City
Friday September 9, 2011
Learn to play badminton with like-minded urbanites on a six week beginner’s course that will be launched this month in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.
With over 500 people getting involved across London in weekly Badminton activities, there is significant demand to play more badminton right across the capital and new court time opportunities continue to be created in all 33 London boroughs to build on this opportunity.
For the fast-paced and fun-loving adult seeking fun, easy and inexpensive opportunities to learn new skills and keep fit, ‘Badders in the City’ is the latest urban trend - a sociable and exciting opportunity to play badminton.
A far more enjoyable way to get fit than pounding the pavements on your own, this 6 week course of instructed sessions will get you to serving, smashing & socialising! All for a bargain basement price of just £20!
Phoenix Fitness Centre and Janet Adegoke Swimming Pool is launching its first ‘Badders in the City’ course to get you up to speed. Starting on Thursday 29th September, the course will run each week from 7.30pm-9.00pm. At the end of the 6 weeks, No Strings Badminton sessions will be launched to ensure players can continue improving and keep their new found passion for badminton alive.
BADMINTON England, who are on a mission to get 70,000 new adults onto court by 2013, are constantly working with new partners in London and across the country to ensure this increasing demand for court time is met.
A strong partnership with GLL - leisure’s most successful social enterprise – has encouraged the roll out of new pay and play badminton opportunities at 19 GLL leisure centres within 13 London boroughs. This relationship sees great value No Strings Badminton sessions, aimed at adults of all age, ability and background, being delivered weekly across the capital, including all five Host 2012 boroughs in East London, Crystal Palace National Sports Centre and is now being introduced in Hammersmith and Fulham.
Jenny Douch, Regional Officer for BADMINTON England said: "The Badders in the City’ course offers participants a really fun and sociable opportunity to improve their badminton – all for just £20, its great value!
"Even more exciting is that after the 6 week course finishes you can continue playing every week at the No Strings Badminton sessions, this is a great addition to your weekly fitness regime."
Ashton Rennie, Regional Sports Officer for GLL added “Badminton is an enjoyable and challenging sport that is suitable for everyone regardless of age, fitness level or skill. We are delighted to introduce ‘Badders in the City’ and No Strings Badminton at Phoenix Fitness Centre and Janet Adegoke Swimming Pool and hope these easy access, drop in sessions in addition to ‘Badders in the City’ course will encourage more people to try the sport, improve their existing skills or simply enjoy the challenge of competition. So what are you waiting for? Grab a friend and a racket and come and try it!”
Cllr Greg Smith, Hammersmith & Fulham Council, cabinet member for residents’ services, said: “Hammersmith & Fulham is one of the sportiest boroughs in London and we are delighted that these badminton classes will be taking place in one of our leisure centres.”
In addition, BADMINTON England is also working with GOLD CHALLENGE (www.goldchallenge.org - opens new window) motivating adults to head back onto a badminton court and raise money for a chosen charity as part of the official mass participation legacy programme attached to London 2012.
Make sure you tell your friends... if you register and get a friend to book you will receive a free racket!
To find your nearest course and book on to it go to: www.badmintonengland.co.uk/citybadders (opens new window).
For further information on No Strings Badminton please visit: www.nostringsbadminton.com (opens new window) and for further information on badminton at Phoenix Fitness Centre and Janet Adegoke Swimming Pool please contact Daniel Fox on 020 8735 4900 or email: daniel.fox@gll.org.
