Padel with Purpose: How One Organization Is Reimagining Sport for Good
By Helen Park (10/12/25) — London, UK
As I scrolled through LinkedIn to gather inspiration for this blog, a post from David Aisa Miller, the Social Impact and Sustainability Lead at Social Sports Society (SSS), caught my attention. This post announced a new partnership with DYUCE, a company that recycles used padel balls, and recapped a volunteer event with local organizations and a youth padel event. Intrigued by the community and environment-focused initiatives, I reached out to David and scheduled a call to discuss his work at SSS and how the partnership came about.
Social Sports Society is a vibrant UK-based organization devoted to uniting communities through a shared love of social sport. With a mission to make padel accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities, they create inclusive environments at high-quality venues across London and beyond. SSS transforms neglected spaces into fitness and social hubs, offers coaching for people new to the sport or those who want to improve, and hosts open-play sessions according to level.
Social Sports Society Padel Court next to Wembley Stadium
By providing top-notch facilities and fostering a welcoming community spirit, Social Sports Society is not just building places to play padel but creating opportunities for everyone to connect, stay active, and be part of the country’s fastest-growing sport. Their commitment is reflected in ongoing partnerships, venue expansions, and a focus on inclusivity, with regular updates ensuring members and newcomers alike are engaged and informed about the latest developments. SSS currently operates two padel sites, with seven courts on the way by the end of the year.
David is a third-year student at the University of Southampton, currently doing a placement year, which is an eight to twelve-month full-time internship at Social Sports Society. His role focuses on building partnerships with local organizations and communities, overseeing sustainable certifications, and ideating and incorporating sustainable practices at padel courts. After more than three months with SSS, he’s helped weave sustainability into the fabric of the organization’s rapid expansion. He’s constantly innovating ways to upcycle used padel equipment.
When we spoke about the DYUCE partnership, David’s enthusiasm was clear. The idea began with a simple question: what happens to the thousands of padel balls that lose their bounce every season? Most are thrown away, destined for landfills — an invisible waste stream that grows with the sport’s popularity.
By teaming up with DYUCE, SSS found a way to close that loop. All used padel balls across their sites are now collected, recycled, and repurposed into new materials, keeping the game circular and sustainable.
What struck me most during our conversation was how SSS treats social impact as a mindset. The team “champions inclusivity, well-being, and sustainability, to create accessible opportunities for everyone” to help build “healthier, better connected, and more resilient communities” while also driving societal and environmental impact. When scouting and establishing new padel court locations, Social Sports Society (SSS) actively engages with the local community by organizing listening sessions. These sessions provide a platform for residents to share their ideas and suggestions, ensuring that the new spaces are developed in ways that truly benefit and reflect community needs.
SSS also places a heavy emphasis on youth development and growing the game of padel. This summer, SSS partnered with London Youth, the Jack Petchey Foundation, and All People Active CIC to host a padel event for over 70 kids. SSS also offers discounts for students, making the sport more accessible. Closing the gap in accessibility allows more people to participate.
As SSS continues to grow, it’s setting a new precedent for how sports organizations can expand responsibly. From a single LinkedIn post to an inspiring conversation, I realized that stories like this remind us what sustainability can look like when it’s personal. It’s not confined to policy documents or carbon reports — sometimes, it’s as simple as giving a used padel ball a second life.
