The LTA

Zac is 14 years old and has Downs Syndrome. He loves taking part in adaptive Padel at Smash in partnership with Whitstable Tennis Club. These sessions provide Zac with the opportunity to stay active, build confidence and enjoy being part of an inclusive and supportive environment.

Since receiving an initial three year grant from the LTA Tennis Foundation in April 2023, Sport in Mind have been taking action every single week, creating spaces where Tennis becomes a catalyst for positive mental health.

And the impact is real.

With the support of the grant from the LTA Tennis Foundation we have transformed the lives of nearly 500 people suffering with their mental health through our free supporting Tennis sessions. We have delivered 1118 sessions and now have 16 weekly sessions running across the South East, South West and Wales. Of those surveyed, 78% grew in confidence and 69% reported improvement in mood.

These outcomes show what Taking Action looks like when partnership is purposeful, consistent and rooted in community.

Together, we’ve opened tennis up to people who may never have seen themselves on a court. Through inclusive coaching, community outreach and consistent weekly delivery, this partnership is breaking down barriers and showing that tennis can be for everyone, regardless of background, ability or experience.

The partnership has also strengthened the tennis workforce, equipping coaches and volunteers with the tools, training and understanding they need to support people experiencing mental health challenges. This includes our Mental Health Fact Sheet for the LTA workforce and inclusion of a mental health component to the Open Your Doors training.

Having received a second three-year grant from the LTA Tennis Foundation in January 2026 Sport are committed to deepening and expanding this work, by sustaining current delivery, expanding in to Suffolk, Lancashire and Cheshire, launching Padel in to the partnership and delivering an annual tennis festival celebrating movement and mental health.

This is what Taking Action looks like. It can be as simple as stepping on to a court, as powerful as finding a community that welcomes you, and as transformative as rediscovering connection through sport.

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