Burnley mental health CIC, Six Connections, calls on Lancashire businesses to back 24-hour padel fundraiser
BURNLEY, LANCASHIRE. 30th April 2026: Burnley-based mental health CIC Six Connections is calling on Lancashire businesses, community groups and local supporters to get behind its first-ever fundraising event, 24 Hour Padel People, which will take place at Pendle Padel Club in Nelson on Friday 26th and Saturday 27th June 2026.
The 24-hour challenge will see two Six Connections squads, captained by Justine Bedford from The Royal Dyche and Matt Turner from MT3 Gymtake, on 24 back-to-back padel fixtures against 24 challenger pairs.
The event starts at 12 noon on Friday 26th June, with the final match taking place at 11am on Saturday 27th June. Each match will last 45 minutes, with the highest score winning.
Funds raised through 24 Hour Padel People will help Six Connections continue and grow its work through the ‘Powered By Mates’ movement, providing places on its mental health training programme for businesses, grassroots sports clubs, schools and education providers.
Since launching in 2020, Six Connections has helped thousands of people start positive conversations about mental health with family, friends and colleagues. Its award-winning training programme is designed to reduce stigma, break down barriers and give people the confidence to check in properly, at work, at home, in the pub and in everyday life.
The event is being planned as a social fundraising challenge, with coffee, drinks, DJs and entertainment at the venue throughout the 24 hours. Businesses can take part by entering a Liz Wilkinson PR lizwilkinsonpr.com liz@lizwilkinsonpr.com
challenger pair, sponsoring the event, supporting staff to fundraise, donating through the Crowdfunder campaign or coming along on the day to cheer on the players.
Dave Scholes, founder of Six Connections, said,
“Six Connections has always been about making mental health conversations feel normal, human and part of everyday life. 24 Hour Padel People brings that idea to life in a really simple way. It gets people together, gives businesses and local supporters a way to do something positive, and helps us fund training places for the organisations that support our communities, but often don’t have spare budget for this kind of work.
“You don’t need to be good at padel. You don’t even need to have played before. This is about showing up, getting involved and helping us keep more conversations happening before crisis point.”
Businesses or individuals can enter as challengers for a £250 fundraising target, per pair, per fixture.
Six Connections is also offering a limited number of corporate sponsorship packages, priced at £1,000 per sponsor. Sponsors will receive pre-event, during-event and post-event promotion, social media and press visibility, impact reporting from the training places their support enables, one standard playing slot allocation, logo placement on squad playing kit and the opportunity to display banners or promotional materials at the venue.
Dave Scholes, founder of Six Connections, is inviting sponsors, players, fundraisers and supporters to get involved in its first-ever fundraising event, 24 Hour Padel People, taking place at Pendle Padel this June.
Dave added,
“We already have people involved from across the Lancashire business community, and we’d love to see more local organisations get behind it. It’s a brilliant team challenge, a chance to spend time with clients, colleagues and friends, and a practical way to support mental health conversations across the county.
“One conversation can change everything. It can even save a life.”
24 Hour Padel People will take place at Pendle Padel Club, 1 Lindred Road, Brierfield, BB9 5SR.
To enter a challenger pair, discuss sponsorship or to simply come along and support the event, contact Six Connections at hello@sixconnections.co.uk.
To donate or start fundraising, visit: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/24-hour-padel-people
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