LTA Tennis Foundation announces funding has impacted over half a million people in 2023

2023 was a significant year for the LTA TF which launched its Grant Making Framework and awarded £2.3m to 32 organisations in two rounds of funding, and invested £1.5m across 11 Quick Access Loans. As well as upgrading facilities, clubs and venues are required to deliver community projects as part of their loan agreement. These projects have seen huge success, one in particular is Sunridge Park who run inclusive padel sessions.   

It also funded almost 400 equipment packs for the LTA SERVES and LTA Open Court programmes, which aim to open up tennis to underserved communities and disabled people. The LTA TF also funded over 2,000 £250 LTA Youth Schools vouchers which schools can use to purchase tennis equipment or 10 hours of team teaching with an LTA Accredited Coach, 379,585 students are estimated to have played tennis because of LTA Youth Schools.   

In addition to the above, alongside the UK Government, the LTA TF is funding a transformation of park tennis courts across Britain. A £30m investment by the UK Government and LTA TF is aiming to impact 3,000 park tennis courts across England, Scotland, and Wales, renovating these facilities and bringing them back into sustainable use. Huge progress was made throughout 2023 transforming more than 1,500 courts, bringing them back to life for the enjoyment of local communities up and down the country. 

As well as funding programmes and projects, the LTA TF is committed to delivering exceptional experiences for its grant-funded partners throughout the year. This could be taking advantage of complimentary partner ticket offers, bringing groups together to watch elite tennis, which they may have never had the opportunity to do before or giving people the opportunity to step on to centre court to take part in a coin toss – all giving lasting memories.  

The report closes with a look ahead to the LTA TF’s ambitious future plans, which sees the funding of additional programmmes, one of which is Beyond the Baseline, which uses tennis and inspirational mentors to help young people fulfil their potential. Another key area of development will be growing fundraising income. An intentional approach will be taken with a focus on meaningful and impactful relationships with donors, enabling those passionate about tennis to make a real and credible difference to people’s lives.  

Tim Lawler MBE, Chair of the Board of Trustees says, “The wonderful sport of tennis has much to offer, whether that’s the simple camaraderie and company of a shared pastime or the life enhancing development of confidence and inspiration, the LTA TF can be an enabler to make those experiences more accessible to more people, more often. I feel very proud of the work and progress during 2023 and thank everyone who has played their part, particularly the Trustees and LTA colleagues. My role as Chair is made all the more manageable and fulfilling by the fantastic people and organisations involved”.