A new partnership will span three years with the goal of increasing tennis accessibility for a larger audience in London.
Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has teamed up with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) for a collaborative initiative dubbed Rally Together London, which involves a £500,000 investment. This program aims to train 250 individuals from marginalized backgrounds to become part of the tennis workforce and to organize sessions for local communities.
The initiative intends to introduce tennis to at least 5,500 additional young people, ensuring that at least half of them are female participants.
This broader partnership will involve the mayor and the LTA collaborating on various programs and campaigns to promote women’s tennis and women’s sports throughout the city.
Rally Together London is set to recruit, train, and deploy 200 tennis activators who will deliver tennis programs while also expanding the LTA’s Barclays Free Park Tennis initiative, which provides free weekly sessions with equipment on public courts in parks, and LTA SERVES, which aims to bring tennis into local communities for youth engagement.
This announcement coincides with the return of a women’s tennis tournament to Queen’s Club for the first time in over five decades, with the HSBC Championships 2025 ongoing until June 15.
Additionally, the city is preparing to host the Women’s Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham Stadium, along with events in football, basketball, rugby league, hockey, cricket, netball, athletics, and triathlon.
Sir Sadiq remarked: “What excites me about this partnership is our opportunity to connect with young people all over the city, particularly young women, as we create new avenues for them to engage with tennis, pursue coaching training, and explore career opportunities in the industry.”
Scott Lloyd, CEO of the LTA, noted: “London is undeniably a tennis hub, with iconic events like the HSBC Championships motivating and inspiring the next generation to pick up a racket and utilize community resources, including park courts in every borough.”
Naomi, an LTA SERVES activator from Badu Sports in East London, commented: “Tennis is a remarkable sport, and I’ve personally witnessed its profound impact on young people in London, encouraging them to stay active while building skills and boosting their confidence.”
