Barclays and LTA announce five-year partnership to get 150,000 more people playing tennis for free across Great Britain
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We have announced a new five-year partnership with Barclays that aims to get 150,000 people playing tennis more regularly, building on our ongoing ambition to get half a million more people playing tennis in parks across Britain.
Barclays is also ‘Official Banking Partner’ of The Championships, Wimbledon.
Barclays and the LTA share the ambition of breaking down barriers to sport and bringing grassroots tennis to local communities. Together, we aim to give people of all abilities, ages, and backgrounds a welcoming and accessible opportunity to play tennis in their local parks, by providing the tennis equipment and instruction to play.
Barclays Free Park Tennis is the first of three initiatives the partnership will launch.
Rolling out across the nation in 100 public parks by the end of 2024, free one-hour volunteer-led tennis sessions will take place on either Saturday or Sunday at 10:00 at public parks throughout England, Scotland and Wales, allowing the public to enjoy the benefits of tennis, whether their goals are improving their health, meeting new people, or simply trying out a new sport this summer.
The sessions will be run by LTA-trained volunteers (Barclays Activators) from the local community – with all tennis equipment provided. So far, 175 volunteers have already received training for the role, with recruitment for new Barclays Activators currently ongoing.
Barclays Ambassador, Clare Balding CBE, is urging the nation to get involved and discover, or re-discover, a love for tennis. Balding, a passionate advocate and campaigner for sport for all, became a Barclays’ Ambassador last year after seeing the impact of their work in football, notably the bank's role in driving equal access for girls to play football in schools.
Whether you’ve never held a racket before, you used to play, or you’d love to get your children playing, Barclays Free Park tennis is for you. I can’t wait to see even more people discover and love tennis like I do.
Clare Balding, Barclays Ambassador, said: “As a Barclays ambassador I have seen first-hand the hugely positive impact their grassroot football programmes have made to local communities. As soon as I saw their work in action, I knew I had to be part of helping launch and roll out their new tennis initiative to get 150,000 more people playing a game that really is for everyone. Whether you’ve never held a racket before, you used to play, or you’d love to get your children playing, Barclays Free Park tennis is for you. I can’t wait to see even more people discover and love tennis like I do.”
Tom Corbett, Barclays Head of Sponsorship, said: “Sport enriches lives and communities like nothing else. It brings people together and has the power to boost confidence and wellbeing and build life skills for participants. We’ve seen this impact through our grassroot football programmes, and I’m delighted we are now bringing our experience to the world of grassroots tennis through our new partnership with the LTA.
“Whether your goal is getting fit, getting closer to your community, or picking up a new sport – it’s going to be fun, free and open to all.”
Scott Lloyd, CEO of LTA, said: “We want tennis to be welcoming, enjoyable and inspiring to everyone. This means taking tennis into as many communities across Britain as possible. Barclays Free Parks Tennis will be like a ‘Park Run’ for tennis, with free equipment, court space and instruction for players of all ages. We’re also excited to be partnering with Barclays on Big Tennis Weekends and Local Tennis Leagues to grow participation even further.”
Barclays Free Park Tennis follows the recent £30million UK Government and LTA Tennis Foundation investment, delivered by the LTA, which is bringing thousands of existing park tennis courts in poor or unplayable condition back to life, with a particular focus on areas of high social deprivation. Through this investment, significant progress has already been made towards delivering half a million more tennis players in parks across Britain.
Alongside Barclays Free Park Tennis, Barclays will also become the lead partner of Barclays Big Tennis Weekends – free tennis open days hosted by park, club or community tennis venues throughout the year – and Barclays Local Tennis Leagues – friendly, competitive mixed singles and doubles leagues for adults taking place at local parks.
