LTA To Donate 5,000 Tennis Rackets To Charity Streetgames

The LTA has announced that it will donate almost 5,000 rackets to young people in low socio economic groups.

As part of the LTA’s Tennis at Home campaign, the organisation are teaming up with its Official Charity Partner, StreetGames, to distribute the rackets across the country.

The LTA says Tennis At Home was developed in answer to a government call to help keep the nation active during the coronavirus lockdown, and will also help support StreetGames’ effort to provide alternative ways for young people from disadvantaged communities to stay active at home in the absence of regular sports sessions.

“We’re very pleased to be working with StreetGames, as part of our vision to open tennis up to more people, by putting rackets in the hands of the young people they work with through our Tennis at Home campaign and LTA Youth activities,” said Julie Porter, Chief Operating Officer, LTA.

“This is a difficult time for us all, but potentially even more so for young people from disadvantaged communities, and so it’s more important than ever that everyone is given the opportunity to find enjoyable ways to stay active at home. It is great that we can help provide an outlet for those people who are currently not able to attend the sports sessions that are so vital to their physical and mental wellbeing.”

The LTA will deliver the rackets to nine locations, where they will then be distributed by 60 StreetGames partners, reaching young people in the communities. The rackets will also be accompanied by distribution of food packages and essential items. 

As part of the racket distribution, recipients will also be given a leaflet detailing a number of tennis activities they can do at home, as well as being signposted to an online video series featuring further home-based tennis drills and exercises which have been created as part of the LTA’s grassroots initiative LTA Youth. 

Mark Lawrie, Acting CEO of StreetGames said: “The current lockdown is hugely challenging for all of us, but especially for the children and young people StreetGames supports. Many families, especially those in disadvantaged communities, are facing weeks trapped in small living spaces without access to gardens or large green spaces. 

“Our #SportHelps campaign is working to support children and young people through these testing times, by providing resources and support to brighten up their days and enjoy fun, physical activity no matter where they are.

“We’re delighted to have the support of the LTA in this mission. These rackets, and the brilliant video series the LTA have produced, will allow us to get thousands of individual young people up and moving at home.”

The LTA’s support is part of StreetGames’ wider #SportHelps campaign which, through partnerships with sporting organisations, community groups and businesses, is helping young people and their communities by providing resources, supplies, and advice to improve mental and physical wellbeing during the pandemic.