Black History Month: Building community through tennis
• 3 minute read
Award-winning community organisation Tennis for All is helping more people discover and enjoy tennis across north London, opening up the sport to those who may not traditionally see tennis as being for them.
As part of Black History Month, we're shining a spotlight on the organisation's work and the partnerships helping more people get on court and experience the benefits of tennis.
Founded in 2016 at Finsbury Park, Tennis for All has grown from a local initiative into an award-winning programme. Recognised with the LTA Awards' Parks Venue of the Year and Connecting Communities Award, it uses tennis to bring people together, improve wellbeing and strengthen local connections.
Today, Tennis for All operates across eight park venues in north London, reaching over 2,700 people each year.
Part of The Access to Sport Project, funded by LTA Tennis Foundation, Tennis for All works with partners in parks, housing estates and youth centres to help break down barriers to tennis and engage people who may face challenges accessing the sport. At the heart of its approach is a simple belief: tennis should be for everyone.
Calum Manby, Programme Manager at Tennis for All, said: "We want to engage with as many people as possible, whether that's through playing, volunteering or coaching. Tennis is a powerful tool for community engagement, health and social connection."
One of Tennis for All's most successful partnerships is with Black Tennis Mentors, which delivers bi-weekly sessions at Finsbury Park designed to engage Black and Afro-Caribbean communities.
What began with a small open day in 2024 involving just four or five players has grown into a thriving programme, generating over 900 bookings and nearly 400 participants from across the capital. Open to players of all abilities, the sessions offer regular opportunities to play, develop skills and connect with others through tennis.
"Tennis has traditionally been seen as a white, middle-class sport," said Calum. "These sessions are helping to change perceptions and introduce more people to the game."
For Arum Akom, founder of Black Tennis Mentors, the partnership demonstrates the impact that can be achieved when organisations work together.
Our partnership with Tennis for All has helped us build something that goes beyond tennis. People come to play, but they stay because of the connections they make, the confidence they build and the sense of community they've found.
The impact extends beyond participation, with members of the group progressing into coaching and inspiring others to get involved.
For Antuan Hoang what started as a chance to try tennis has become a pathway into coaching. After first attending the sessions as a player, he became a regular on court and is now working towards coaching qualifications. His journey highlights how programmes like this can help people build confidence, develop new skills and take the next step in the sport.
"The atmosphere at the sessions is something special," added Calum. "I've worked in tennis for 15 years and I've never experienced anything quite like it. It's a really joyful environment to be part of."
Alongside low-cost coaching and free holiday camps for children and young people aged five to 19, Tennis for All works with local partners across Hackney, Islington and Haringey to deliver programmes both on and off the court.
From sessions for women and girls and older adults to activities for LGBTQ+ players and people experiencing homelessness, its work uses tennis to support wellbeing, strengthen connections and make a positive difference in local communities.
Amanda Robinson, Delivery Manager at the LTA, said, "Partnerships like these play an important role in helping us open up tennis to more people. By working with organisations embedded in their communities, we can reach new audiences and help more people discover and enjoy the sport."
Find out more
Learn more about Tennis Opened Up, the LTA's vision to make tennis relevant, accessible, welcoming and enjoyable for everyone, and discover the partnerships helping to drive the sport across Britain.
