About Natalie
When Natalie arrived in the UK from Ukraine, she was rebuilding her life from scratch.
Born in Kyiv, Natalie was just 16 years old when the Russian invasion forced her and her family to leave their home and seek safety in the UK. Despite the challenges of starting over in a new country, she remained determined to make a positive contribution, raising money for Ukraine through the sale of handmade arts and crafts.
Today, Natalie is studying Criminology and Law at university and has just completed her first year. Alongside her studies, she has discovered another passion that has transformed her confidence and future ambitions - tennis.
Finding a community through tennis
Always active and sporty, Natalie was introduced to tennis through local charity Karmabank's women-only community tennis programme, Unrivalled, which is funded by an LTA Tennis Foundation grant.
Over the last two years, Natalie has developed her skills on court while becoming part of a supportive community of women from a range of backgrounds. The programme gave her space not only to learn the game, but also to build friendships, confidence and a sense of belonging.
"When I first arrived in the UK, everything felt unfamiliar," Natalie said. "Through tennis I met people, built friendships and became part of a community. It helped me feel more confident and more at home."
"Tennis has become much more than just a sport for me," Natalie said. "I have been training in tennis for the past two years, developing my skills and passion for the sport. Before completing my Level 1 coaching qualification, I realised tennis was something I wanted to pursue more seriously and share with others.
"After finishing the course, I started teaching and assisting at CourtFit through Karmabank, helping young players build their confidence and enjoyment of the game. Seeing their progress and knowing I can make a positive impact has been incredibly rewarding."
Through tennis I met people, built friendships and became part of a community. It helped me feel more confident and more at home.
Thanks to funding provided by LTA Tennis Foundation, Natalie was able to complete her Level 1 coaching qualification, turning a passion for tennis into an opportunity to inspire others and take her first steps towards a future in coaching.
She is now helping to deliver sessions with CourtFit, inspiring the next generation of players and proving the positive impact that accessible community programmes can have.
Natalie's journey demonstrates how tennis can be a powerful tool for improving lives beyond the court, helping people build confidence, find belonging, develop new skills and unlock opportunities they may never have imagined.
A unique opportunity
Natalie's decisions have already led to some memorable opportunities. During the 2026 grass court season, she was invited to the HSBC Championships to coach a group of Ukrainian children on one of the pristine grass courts at The Queen's Club and meet professional tennis player Maria Sakkari.
What LTA Tennis Foundation funded
Unrivalled is a programme delivered by Karmabank - an inclusive, women-only community tennis programme supporting women who may face barriers to participation, including refugees, people on low incomes, those who are unemployed or not in education, employment or training (NEET), and women experiencing social isolation.
Delivered in partnership with CourtFit, the programme provides a safe, welcoming and trauma-informed environment where participants can progress from complete beginners to matchplay and coaching qualifications.
Working closely with organisations including the NHS, British Red Cross, Hestia and Community Living Well, Unrivalled helps women improve their physical and mental wellbeing, develop employability skills and become part of a supportive community. The programme has also been supported by funding from London Sport and Sport England.