LTA's Inspire for Women Volunteers programme receives World Tennis Advantage All Gold Award
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The LTA is pleased to announce it has been awarded the World Tennis Advantage All Gold Award in recognition of our Inspire for Women Volunteers programme, an initiative developed to address the gender gap in the volunteer leadership pipeline in tennis and padel in Britain.
Advantage All is the international governing body’s gender equality strategy which has run a reward and recognition programme since 2022 - with gold, silver, bronze and highly commended categories to recognise national associations around the world for their work to advance gender equality.
Developed as part of the LTA’s She Rallies strategy, Inspire for Women Volunteers is designed to help women recognise their leadership potential, build confidence and develop the practical skills needed to progress into positions such as county committee roles, Board appointments and LTA Council representation.
Since launching, the programme has supported 28 women across two cohorts through in-person workshops, virtual learning, self-reflection activities and networking opportunities - developing skills across four core areas: leadership, communication, collaboration and presenting.
The programme also provides greater visibility of leadership pathways within tennis, helping women understand the opportunities available, how to apply or be nominated, and the support that exists to help them succeed.
The programme has already delivered significant impact, with 13 of its 28 alumni progressing into senior leadership roles, including four appointments to the LTA Board, alongside positions on LTA Council, national county boards, and member organisation committees.
The LTA has previously received a Silver award and been highly commended but this marks the first time the organisation has received the highest accolade, announced this week at the World Tennis Conference and AGM in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Vicky Williams, LTA People Director said, “It is fantastic that the LTA has received global recognition through this award, we are delighted with the impact that the Inspire for Women Volunteers programme is having and would be even more delighted if other nations around the world are able to take learnings from the programme.
"Thank you to our brilliant cohorts who have embraced the opportunities provided by the programme and continue to play a vital role in the development of tennis and padel in Britain.”
Bridie Amos, LTA Deputy President and a member of the first Inspire for Women Volunteers cohort, added, “Being part of the Inspire for Women Volunteers programme was incredibly valuable to me. It gave me the opportunity to reflect on my leadership skills, build my confidence and learn from other women who share a passion for tennis and padel.
"The programme helped me to recognise my own potential and gave me practical skills and a greater understanding of the pathways available to progress into more senior leadership roles. It has been an important part of my journey to becoming LTA Deputy President, and I hope that other women will benefit from the programme in the same way, feeling empowered and encouraged to take that next step in their own leadership journeys.”
