LTA Tennis Foundation commits a further £1 million to improve lives through tennis

LTA Tennis Foundation, LTA’s official charity, is a grant and loan giving charity. It partners with experts embedded within their community so the funding provided can have the biggest impact possible. As ever, the applications went through a rigorous review process, and organisations had to show that their project was aligned to the grant framework outcomes, and ultimately, how it will improve lives through tennis.   

This round includes repeat funding for six organisations that initially received an 'Innovate' grant to pilot their projects and are now being awarded 'Scale' funding to expand and grow their initiatives. Additionally, new organisations such as Arden Active, LUSU Sports, and Swimming Together and Recreational Sports have joined the LTA Tennis Foundation’s network as newly funded partners.  

LUSU Sports are piloting a new programme with their ‘Innovate’ grant which uses the power of tennis to tackle loneliness, improve wellbeing, and reduce the risk of falls among older adults in care homes. By introducing a "train the trainer" model, care home staff, carers, and support workers are equipped with the skills and confidence to deliver fun, adaptive tennis sessions directly within the care home environment. 

The approach is simple yet powerful: when staff are trained to provide ‘active support’ as part of their daily interactions, physical activity becomes a social norm. This not only increases residents’ activity levels but also boosts their self-esteem and sense of independence. 

Louise Assioun, Director at LUSU Sports, said “LUSU Sports are extremely excited and grateful to have been awarded an LTA Tennis Foundation grant for our project taking tennis skills into Care and Residential Homes. We have piloted our train the trainer concept and it has been very rewarding watching the residents participate in the tennis activity, with smiles and laughter, opening memories of times when they used to play tennis or take part in activity. With the support of this grant, we can reach many more care and residential homes and organisations, create resources using LUSU adaptive equipment and ensure that tennis can be played to 99 years and beyond! 

Arden Active has been awarded an ‘Innovate’ grant to deliver tennis sessions for Ukrainian refugees in the Solihull and Birmingham areas. And Swimming Together and Recreational Sports has been awarded an ‘Innovate’ grant to deliver free, local, and accessible tennis sessions for young people with complex needs, helping to overcome barriers to participation.  

Existing LTA Tennis Foundation partners going on to scale their programmes include, among others, Get Set 4 Tennis and The King’s Trust.  

The King’s Trust successfully piloted their ‘Get Started in Tennis’ programme in 2024. Following its success, they have been awarded funding to continue delivering the programme over the next three years, helping open up career pathways for young people from underserved communities. 

Rachael Maule, Partnership Manager, The Kings Trust, said: "We are honoured and deeply grateful for the generosity of the LTA Tennis Foundation. This funding will have a lasting impact - allowing us to expand our programmes, provide ongoing support, and reach more young people in need. The King’s Trust is proud to continue its mission of transforming lives, and this grant is a vital step toward helping even more young people succeed. 

“Through funding for 'Get Started in Tennis’, participants will gain the opportunity to unlock new career paths, build resilience, and experience a sense of achievement and belonging. 

“Thanks to this transformative grant, The King’s Trust can strengthen its efforts to help young people thrive, overcome challenges, and build stable, meaningful lives."