LTA Tennis Foundation launches Annual Report at the House of Lords

Key Achievements 

LTA TF has awarded £2.9 million in grants to 36 organisations, impacting nearly 35,000 people and supporting the training of 700 coaches, leaders, and volunteers. Through its Grant Making Framework, LTA TF funds initiatives aligned with its mission to improve lives through tennis.

In 2024 alone, LTA TF funded over 250 equipment packs for LTA SERVES and LTA Open Court, enabling underserved communities and underrepresented groups to access tennis. LTA TF also funds the £250 vouchers that schools receive as part of the LTA Youth Schools offer. Last year, 1,256 were funded which led to 314,000 students estimated to have played tennis as a result.  

Facilities investment is another key area of focus, and guests were given an opportunity to talk to the LTA Property team about the £20.5m invested in facilities since 2019 across the Park Tennis Project, Quick Access Loans (QAL), and Transforming Scottish Indoor Tennis, as well as hearing firsthand from Jo Powlson, Club Manager at Sunridge Park about the impact funding from the QAL’s have had for them.

Showcasing Impact  

To showcase the impact alongside the numbers, guests heard from two panels. The first was led by former Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis Player Louise Hunt-Skelley who is an Athlete Mentor on LTA TF funded programme Beyond the Baseline.

This programme, which is delivered in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust, uses tennis and mentorship to help students who may struggle with their behaviour or academic performance.

Louise spoke with four students from Pioneer Academy, who took part in the programme in 2024, about their experiences and the impact it has had on them. Guests heard about how their confidence improved, how they had to push themselves out of their comfort zone, and that the programme has had such a positive impact on their lives and outlook.  

Louise also reflected on her role as a mentor, expressing deep appreciation for the opportunity to support young people and witness their transformation. She described the programme as a rewarding journey, not only for the students but also for herself, underscoring the profound impact mentorship can have on young lives. 

Guests then heard from three experts in their areas of delivery who are all connected with LTA TF in different ways.  

Jack Edwards, the Tennis Co-Ordinator for Achieve More Scotland talked about the impact the tennis sessions have had on the young people he works with in and around Glasgow and the sense of community the sessions have created. He expressed how important it is to create pathways into venues to ensure suitable tennis access.

Khadija Patel is the Chair of Krimmz Girls Youth Club, who deliver sessions to people from diverse ethnic communities in Bolton and work to remove cultural, and faith-based barriers, to help improve people’s physical and mental wellbeing. Khadija discussed the importance of representation for their community, and how much women and girls have taken to the sport. She went on to explain that this is due to the nature of tennis being non-contact, and that they have been able to adapt the session to ensure barriers are removed and women feel safe in the environment. 

Arum Akom, a Park Tennis Coach in Streatham Vale Park in South London, which was brought back to life thanks to the Park Tennis Project, spoke passionately about the importance of park tennis and the impact it can have for a community.

The Park Tennis Project is an investment by the UK Government and LTA TF to transform over 3,000 park tennis courts across England, Scotland and Wales ensuring long-term sustainable use for local communities.

Interactive Activities  

Before the speakers started, guests were encouraged to take part in an activity with The Change Foundation - an LTA TF funded partner - from their Tennis Talk programme which has been designed to support young people's mental wellbeing using tennis as the tool to engage.  

The first, Tennis Tracer is a simple breathing exercise using a tennis racquet. You trace up as you breathe in, trace down as you breathe out. This is practiced for 30 seconds, and it helps young people slow down, focus, and regulate their emotions. 

The second, Tape It Till You Make It, is a fast-paced game where participants race to wrap a tennis ball in electrical tape in 30 seconds. It is designed to spark conversation about how people sometimes quickly 'mask' their true emotions out of fear or pressure.  

Baroness Lister of Burtersett closed the event, speaking on the importance of access to tennis, and opening up the sport to all, noting that the work of LTA TF and partners within the room is doing just that. 

Tom Gibbins, Head of Foundation Development said, “Being able to bring so many people together to celebrate the impact that LTA TF funding is having was fantastic. Hearing from people who have been directly impacted is always powerful and I hope our guests enjoyed hearing from them.

"We are very proud of what LTA TF has achieved to date, and we look forward to continuing our support of such impactful projects and programmes which open up our sport and improve lives through tennis.”