Toggle Main Menu £30m to be invested in redevelopment of thousands of UK tennis courts More than 4,500 tennis courts across Britain are to receive a slice of a £30m investment. The funding will go towards refurbishing public tennis facilities in some of the most deprived areas of the country. £21.9m of the funding is coming from central government and the additional £8.4m from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA). The initiative is aimed at opening up the sport of tennis to people of all backgrounds. In addition, the government has announced it will provide around £30m a year in improving sports facilities at schools in England, and to enhance the teaching of Physical Education at primary school level. Tim Hollingsworth, CEO of Sport England, a non-departmental public body under the government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, commented on the funding initiative: “Our research into activity levels during COVID-19 has demonstrated just how much people rely on the facilities in their local area to get active. “It’s also vital that we use this opportunity to tackle existing inequalities by supporting the communities that need it most. “Therefore, we will be working to ensure that tennis courts in the most deprived areas are prioritised for refurbishment. “In addition, we are delighted that nearly £30 million extra a year will go towards improving and opening up school sports facilities in England and improving PE in primary school.” Hosting one of the most famous of Grand Slam tennis tournaments, and being home to around 7,150 tennis courts (2017 figures), tennis is, without doubt, one of the most popular sports in the UK. The sport has however traditionally been associated with more affluent members, and significant socioeconomic barriers still exist. Last month, British tennis gained global attention when Emma Raducanu won the US Open. The 18-year-old became the first British woman to win a Grand Slam singles title since 1977. Things are going from strength-to-strength for British tennis as, following Raducanu’s success, Cameron Norrie became the first British tennis player to win the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells. The 26-year-old beat Nikoloz Basilashvill in the final in a three-set victory The UK government, along with the LTA, are aiming to overcome socioeconomic barriers associated with tennis in Britain and build on the recent success of the sport by pumping funds into refurbishing facilities, especially in deprived areas. The resurgence of British tennis, coupled with the drive to refurbish clubs to encourage everyone regardless of their backgrounds to take up the sport, it’s vital that tennis facilities everywhere have the right insurance in place to keep players, spectators and staff safe. Nelson Policies at Lloyd’s provides specialist cover for sport, social and fitness clubs, including tennis facilities. SHARE: Back to Blog © 2019 All rights reserved. 2nd Floor, Knightrider Chambers, 12 Knightrider Street, Maidstone, Kent, ME15 6LP Registered in England and Wales. Company Number: 1825766. We are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm Reference Number 305456). tel. +44 (0)1622 681243 info@nelsonpolicies.co.uk PrivacyCookie Policy Website designed by IVC