Safeguarding Standards for LTA Venue Registration

Making tennis safe and open to all

As the governing body of tennis in Britain, it is the LTA’s duty to promote the safety of all those who play, volunteer and support tennis in this country. The LTA is therefore committed to supporting and enabling LTA registered venues to ensure that safeguarding standards are upheld.

These standards apply to all venues but please see the Venue Registration portal for details of exact requirements for your venue type.

This is a positive move and one which will help support venues in creating a safe, accessible, enjoyable and welcoming environment for everyone.

 

Coach Accreditation Requirements and Safeguarding Standards

As of Autumn 2022, it is a requirement for all Level 2-5 coaches (which includes LTA Level 2, LTA instructor, overseas or external tennis coaching qualifications), who are delivering coaching activity at LTA Registered venues to be LTA Accredited.

Registered Venues should ensure the requirement for LTA Coach Accreditation is built into the robust coach recruitment processes that venues will have in place.

 

What's in it for my venue?

• Knowledge that your venue is playing its part in making our sport a safe, secure, accessible and welcoming environment for all.
• Confidence that you're meeting duty of care obligations for those playing, socialising, working or volunteering at your venue.
• Exclusive benefits – including access to the LTA Wimbledon Ballot; ClubSpark; Public Liability Insurance; and LTA funding support, programmes and initiatives.

 

What do we need to have in place?

To be eligible for LTA registration, venues must meet the following standards:

Standard 1: Safeguarding Policies

Have a set of clear safeguarding policies that have been implemented within the venue

Standard 2: Safeguarding Awareness

Ensure that there is strong awareness within the venue of safeguarding, the requisite policies and how to report a concern

Standard 3: Safeguarding Culture

Have a Welfare Officer who has undergone the necessary training, is engaged in their role and collaborating with others in the venue to embed a positive safeguarding culture.

Standard 4: Staff, Coaches and Volunteers

Ensure that relevant roles within the venue have completed a satisfactory criminal records check and that any coaches qualified to Level 2 or above are LTA Accredited or Accredited+

Standard 5: Procedure

Ensure that safeguarding is embedded into the venue’s operations and safeguarding risks are considered when  running activities and events

 

Resources

The resources (template policies, forms, etc) to achieve the safeguarding standards are all available on the Safeguarding Overview page. 

Download the Self-Assessment Form and the Safeguarding Standards for LTA Registered Venues PDF guide for detailed information and support on the safeguarding support visit process. 

You can also watch a short webinar explaining how the process will work for LTA Registered Venues.

 

Support and Reviews

We conduct safeguarding support visits with venues on an ongoing basis in order to support Registered Venues in ensuring the safeguarding standards are being maintained. Failure to comply with the standards can lead to the withdrawal of a venue's registration and its benefits.