Together Tennis wins LTA Tennis Foundation Community Tennis Award
• 3 minute read
LTA Tennis Foundation proudly sponsored the Community Tennis Award at the Sporting Equals Awards, reaffirming its commitment to driving greater inclusion within the sport.
Held at the prestigious Lancaster London Hotel, this year’s ceremony brought together an inspiring mix of community organisations, athletes, and coaches from across the sporting landscape to celebrate the powerful impact being made within ethnically diverse communities.
The award recognises an organisation or programme that has demonstrated excellence in bringing tennis to ethnically diverse communities over the past 12 months. The awards evening provided a powerful platform to recognise inspiring work being delivered at a grassroots level, with the LTA Tennis Foundation Community Tennis Award highlighting programmes that are widening access to tennis and breaking down long‑standing barriers to participation. Three outstanding finalists, including SheCanServe, Krimmz Girls Youth Club, and Together Tennis were shortlisted, each demonstrating a strong a strong commitment to inclusion, breaking down long-standing barriers, and opening up the sport to new and diverse audiences.
Tom Gibbins, Head of Foundation Development, said: “It was inspiring to see the breadth and quality of work recognised through the LTA Tennis Foundation Community Tennis Award. All of the finalists showed how tennis can be adapted and delivered in ways that genuinely reflect the needs of diverse communities. We’re proud to support initiatives that are opening the game up to new audiences and creating welcoming spaces for people who may not otherwise have the opportunity to take part.”
LTA Tennis Foundation Community Tennis Award Winner: Together Tennis
The award was presented to Together Tennis, whose culturally aware and community-led approach stood out.
Based in Birmingham, Together Tennis delivers free, fun and culturally inclusive tennis sessions for women and families, helping to remove many of the common barriers that can prevent people from engaging in sport. They work with hundreds of individuals from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds, with more than 80% of participants coming from diverse ethnic communities.
Sessions are adapted to meet a variety of needs and abilities, using modified rackets, softer balls, mini nets and other accessible equipment. This inclusive approach enables participants of all experience levels to build confidence and enjoy tennis from the outset.
Their all-female coaching team also plays a vital role in creating an environment built on trust, reassurance and understanding. Many women say they feel more comfortable and safe learning a new sport in an all-women setting. Several participants also shared that they would not attend mixed gender sessions, often due to cultural expectations or concerns around family approval. Together Tennis responds to these realities by offering an environment that respects individual circumstances while providing a positive and accessible introduction to tennis.
At Together Tennis we use sport as a tool to bring communities together, helping women and children build confidence, boost their physical and mental health and simply be healthier and happier.
In total over 650 women and children have tried tennis for the first time, and the result has been life-changing for many, with one participant saying, “These sessions make me feel like I can cope with my life again, they’ve really helped me feel better mentally and physically.”
A recent participant survey highlights the wide ranging impact of the programme.
Physical activity and energy
- 95% of participants reported feeling fitter and more physically active since joining
- Over 70% reported increased daily energy levels
Mental wellbeing
- 75% reported an improved mood
- Over 75% felt less stressed and better able to cope
- 83% felt more positive about themselves
Social connection and belonging
- Over 80% reported a stronger sense of belonging
- 79% felt more connected to their local community
- More than 90% described the group as positive and supportive
Co-Founder of Together Tennis, Carolle Forde Garcia, said: “The awards evening was a great opportunity for leaders of grassroots sports from very diverse communities to come together. I think we were all celebrating the same thing - our belief that sport has the power to change lives.
“To win the award was absolutely wonderful. We couldn’t wait to take it home to celebrate with our women and children! Maybe it’s a cliche, but it really IS their award. At Together Tennis we use sport as a tool to bring communities together, helping women and children build confidence, boost their physical and mental health and simply be healthier and happier.
“We love to be creative with the emphasis on fun, organising Bollywood Nights, tennis sessions to improve mental health, blending music with Tai Chi and meditation, menopause health and wellbeing events and we’re now training women to become Tennis Activators.”
Together Tennis exemplifies how thoughtful programme design, cultural awareness and community‑focused delivery can transform participation in tennis. Their work not only introduces new players to the game, but also builds confidence, and a strong sense of belonging.
The LTA Tennis Foundation is proud to support and celebrate organisations like Together Tennis through the Community Tennis Award, recognising the vital role they play in making tennis more inclusive and reflective of the communities it serves.
Learn more about the impact
Find out more about the impact of LTA Tennis Foundation funding
