Charity Partners deliver inclusive Tennis Festival at National Tennis Centre

After arriving at the National Tennis Centre and being welcomed by the team, participants began their own tennis Grand Slam journey. Armed with special Grand Slam passports, families travelled around the venue taking part in a series of fun, accessible challenges inspired by the world's most famous tennis tournaments. 

Representing Roland-Garros, Get Set 4 Tennis delivered interactive games that encouraged participants to test their skills, build confidence and have fun in an inclusive environment. Each completed challenge earned participants a stamp in their passport as they worked their way towards completing their very own Grand Slam.

Families also had the opportunity to try adaptive padel, delivered by LUSU Sports and Rocket Padel, Ilford. The sessions introduced participants to padel in a welcoming and inclusive way, ensuring everyone could get involved regardless of age, ability or previous experience. 

One family attending said, "It was great that all kids had a freedom and a chance to try playing tennis no matter their abilities. For the first time my son was enjoying himself when trying to play."

The festival forms part of Access Sport's wider work to increase opportunities for disabled and neurodivergent young people to take part in tennis. Through funding from the LTA Tennis Foundation, Access Sport delivers the Acez Tennis programme, which has already helped disabled and neurodivergent young people access regular tennis opportunities in their local communities. In the last year alone, more than 1,000 young people have taken part in Acez Tennis sessions, with 97% of parents reporting increased confidence and 94% reporting improvements in their child's wellbeing. 

The event demonstrated how the Charity Network enables organisations to work together in ways that increase impact for the communities they serve. Access Sport brought its expertise in supporting disabled young people, Get Set 4 Tennis contributed its experience delivering inclusive tennis sessions opportunities, and LUSU Sports introduced participants to padel through its innovative approach to inclusive physical activity. Together, they created an experience that was more impactful than any single organisation could have delivered alone. By combining their expertise and shared commitment to inclusion, the festival showcased the power of the Charity Network in action. 

Other Acez clubs and coaches on the day included Saltford TC, Sodbury Tennis Club, Vamos Tennis, Roehampton Playing Fields, Norbury Park LTC and Rocket Padel Ilford. A special thank you to the brilliant volunteers and to Pete from Sodbury TC who ran a tennis session for the volunteers on how to adapt tennis to different disabilities. 

Tom Gibbins, Head of LTA Tennis Foundation Development, said: "The Charity Network is about bringing people together to share ideas, learn from one another and create opportunities that might not happen otherwise. This festival is a brilliant example of what can happen when organisations combine their expertise to create more inclusive experiences and help open up tennis to even more people. By connecting organisations with shared ambitions, our aim is to support partners beyond grant funding alone, helping them strengthen their work, and share expertise."  

Helen Rowbotham, Access Sport Chief Executive, said: " Together, we've built a strong foundation for disability inclusive tennis and padel, helping more disabled children and young people access the physical, social and mental wellbeing benefits of the sport. We're incredibly proud of what we've achieved together.