This National Inclusion Week, we’re celebrating a game-changing initiative that’s opening up tennis to communities who’ve historically been left out.
The Inclusive Hotspot Project, led by The Queen’s Club Foundation (QCF), an LTA Tennis Foundation funded partner, and supported by Middlesex Tennis, is a three-year programme designed to break down barriers and build lasting pathways into tennis and padel.
The project’s core aim is to improve social inclusion, health, and community engagement through tennis and padel. With a combined investment from Middlesex Tennis and match funding from QCF, the initiative is creating a model for inclusive tennis, which clubs and venues can deliver across the County of Middlesex and beyond.
The project focusses of six key areas of inclusion:
Blind and Partially Sighted Participants (VI tennis)
Underserved Communities (those from low-income backgrounds)
Homeless Adults
Female Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Children with Autism
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Participants
Each year, two inclusive hotspots will be launched at suitable venues, each focusing on a different area of inclusion, allowing for deep engagement and tailored support.
Each hotspot is built around five key pillars:
Legacy: Free weekly sessions and camps, supported by local clubs and venues.
Community: Strong networks of schools, charities, councils, and clubs.
Awareness: Events, ambassador visits, and resources to raise understanding.
Workforce: Training for coaches, volunteers, and young leaders.
Showcase: Documented best practice models to inspire other counties.
The first phase is already underway, with VI tennis and underserved community hotspots already up and running.
Phoenix Academy – Underserved Communities
Through the LTA Serves Level Up London programme (funded by LTA Tennis Foundation), a youth worker, Kevin Nathaniel, trained as a Level 1 coach and mentored by Kate Maurici, the Head of The Queen’s Club Foundation, has been recruited to deliver free weekly mini red tennis sessions for children from low-income families at Phoenix Academy in White City. Supported by further mentoring for Kevin by Black Tennis Mentors, the hotspots project is building a sustainable model with mentorship, leadership training, and after-school access in an area where opportunities for free or affordable tennis are scarce.
