LTA Tennis Foundation announces new grants to improve lives through tennis
LTA Tennis Foundation (LTA TF) has just completed its fifth grant funding round, awarding £1.6m in grants to 22 organisations. This round saw the highest number of applications to date, reflecting the growing demand for organisations seeking to use tennis to make a positive social impact. As with every funding round, applications must align to the LTA TF’s mission to improve lives through tennis and support the outcomes the charity is seeking to achieve. These include improved physical and mental wellbeing, increased life skills, and expanded social connection. In addition to this, funded programmes must work with groups who are more likely to experience inequalities in access to tennis and padel, such as lower socio-economic groups, disabled people, and women and girls. New partners through Innovate (test and learn) grants We are delighted to welcome several new partners into our Innovate test‑and‑learn community, including: Ryan Jones, Development Manager, The Coalfields Regeneration Trust, highlighted the significance of this investment: “We are incredibly grateful to the LTA Tennis Foundation for supporting the ‘Game On: Reawakening Tennis in South Wales Coalfield Communities’ project. This funding gives us the chance to bring tennis back to the heart of historic miners’ welfare parks – places built by local people, for local people, to improve health, happiness and community life. “By opening up these under-used courts and offering free, welcoming tennis sessions, we can help more people of all ages and backgrounds get active, connect with others and feel proud of their local spaces. We’re really excited to get started and to work with communities to create a lasting, positive impact through tennis across South Wales.” Similarly, Karmabank CIC emphasised the transformative potential of their newly funded programme. Founder Andrew Standen‑Raz said: “The LTA Tennis Foundation grant will be a vital part of our ongoing commitment to using tennis as a tool for positive change in our community, by encouraging more women to lead in sports, and as a fun and healthy way to improve wellbeing.” “This funding gives us the chance to bring tennis back to the heart of historic miners’ welfare parks – places built by local people, for local people, to improve health, happiness and community life.” Ryan Jones, Development Manager, The Coalfields Regeneration Trust Scaling impact with multi-year grants Alongside new innovations, LTA TF remains committed to helping organisations scale and sustain their work through multi‑year funding. Several existing partners received Scale grants in this round, including: Jamie Feaver, CEO of the Tim Henman Foundation, said: “We are incredibly grateful for the award of a second grant, which will enable us to build on the success of our Inclusive Activity Programme, put rackets into the hands of children with special educational needs and disabilities, and inspire them to engage in tennis and physical activity on a more regular basis.” Our commitment to open and trusting grant making Our Grant Making Framework is rooted in openness, honesty, and in 2025 we strengthened that commitment by formally adopting the Institute for Voluntary Action Research’s eight principles for open and trusting grant making. We also became a member of the Association of Charitable Foundations, the UK’s leading network for foundations and independent grant-makers. Reflecting on the latest grant round, Tom Gibbins, Head of Foundation Development said: “We are delighted to welcome so many new partners to the LTA Tennis Foundation through this latest round of funding, and to continue supporting existing partners as they grow their programmes and deepen their impact. “This is our fifth funding round, and the significant increase in applications shows both the need and the appetite to use the power of tennis to improve lives. We’re excited to work alongside our new and returning partners and to see the positive changes these funded programmes will create for people and communities across Britain.” Full list of grantees
KRIMMZ Girls Youth Club, Bolton celebrates King’s Award
A youth club been honoured with the highest award that can be given to community groups in the UK. KRIMMZ Girls Youth Club received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service at a celebration evening last week with a range of special guests, volunteers, supporters and partners. The award recognises the hard work the club does to support ethnically diverse women and girls through sport, leadership, and community development. Bolton Council cabinet member for Stronger Communities and the VCSE sector Cllr Rabiya Jiva said: “It’s so well deserved and what a fabulous evening celebrating and seeing new leaders taking the stage with such confidence! “It has been amazing seeing Khadija and the team going from strength to strength over the years.” “The beauty of it all is seeing women and girls claiming their space and owning it!” The award was announced last November as part of the King’s birthday and has now been presented to the group. Special guests included the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester Diana Hawkins, Mayor of Bolton Cllr David Chadwick, council leader Cllr Nick Peel with Bolton CVS also attendance. Both Ms Hawkins and Cllr Peel praised KRIMMZ for its deep community roots and its impact on improving access to opportunities for girls and women who are often underrepresented in sport. They reflected on KRIMMZ’s journey from a grassroots group to a nationally recognised organisation, highlighting its culturally responsive approach and strong local partnerships. Representatives from a wide range of partner organisations were also present, showing the collaborations that have supported KRIMMZ’s growth and sustainability. KRIMMZ Girls Youth Club director Khadija Patel said she feels the award belongs to the whole Bolton community. She said being honoured like this reflects years of trust-building, volunteer commitment, and belief in creating spaces where women and girls feel welcomed and valued. The club not only recognised their achievements so far but also took a moment to renew its commitment to continue working together to improve opportunities for future generations. It now aims to continues to deliver inclusive programmes across Bolton, using sport as a tool to build confidence, leadership, and community connection among women and girls.