LONDON: The Lawn Tennis Association, the game’s governing body in the UK, Friday announced a multi-million pound package of additional funding and measures to support those involved in tennis in Britain through the impact of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.
The comprehensive package, which has been developed by the LTA in consultation with Tennis Scotland and Tennis Wales, will make additional support available to tennis venues, coaches, officials and players to the value of up to approximately £20 million ($24.54m), with the goal of ensuring that tennis in Britain emerges from this period in as strong and healthy a position as possible, and that the sport is able to resume its unique role in keeping the nation active as soon as conditions allow.
The funding and support will aid those who have been most severely affected by the pandemic, many of whom have seen their income streams reduced while still needing to pay bills and support families. The focus is on protecting the grassroots of the sport, but measures have also been put in place to support professional British tennis players and coaches, including financial grants for some lower ranked players who depend on limited tournament prize money to continue in the sport.
It adds to an existing programme of investment and support that the LTA has continued to make available both during and after the pandemic as part of its strategy to grow tennis and open it up to many more people.
The support being provided by the LTA for those impacted by the coronavirus includes:
Tennis Venues
A repayment holiday on loans of six months for all existing LTA facility loans, equating to a value of almost £1m
A 2019/20 registration fee refund for LTA Registered Venues equating to over £1m
A Hardship Fund of up to £13.5m, providing interest free loans of up to £5,000
Dedicated helpline providing legal expertise to assist with identifying and claiming Government support
Continued operation of the LTA’s Quick Access loans scheme for tennis venues which provides interest free loans of up to £250k for investments such as covered courts, padel courts and floodlighting
Coaches
Financial support grants for full time LTA Accredited Coaches and Tutors, covering both the self-employed and those set up as sole directors of limited companies, equating to a value of approximately £4m
A targeted Hardship Fund of up to £1m, providing interest free loans for coaches of up to £5,000
Dedicated helpline providing legal expertise to assist with identifying and claiming Government support
Free access to online Continuing Professional Development courses
Temporary extension for LTA Accredited Coaches where their accreditation has recently expired or is due to expire in the coming months
Grant and loan funding to be made available to the LTA’s Coach Qualification providers
Officials
Financial support grants for full time LTA Licensed Officials
Dedicated helpline providing legal expertise to assist with identifying and claiming Government support
Temporary extension for LTA Licensed Officials where their Licence has recently expired or is due to expire in the coming months
Provision of additional Online Webinars/Workshops
Additional support around scheduled tournaments that have been cancelled, including reimbursement of fees incurred through processing player entry refunds
Performance Players and Programmes (LTA Player Pathway)
Continued funding provided to network of over 60 LTA Local and Regional Player Development Centres plus the two National Academies to ensure they can return to operations as normal on resumption of tennis
Continued payment of funding grants to players on the LTA Player Pathway and Wheelchair World Class
Programmes
New support grant for British singles players ranked ATP / WTA 101-750 and British doubles players ranked ATP / WTA 101-250 who are not currently in receipt of LTA player funding
Increased prize money for British Tour events and an enhanced Tournament Bonus Scheme linked to professional events should these resume later in the year
Provision of home fitness training kits with virtual training sessions plus remote science and medicine services to targeted player groups
Increased mental health and wellbeing support
Recreational Players and Public (Tennis at Home campaign)
Series of online tennis activity and fitness videos that can be done in the home or garden
Dedicated activity content for both children and the over 70’s
Enhanced programme of digital and social media content to keep tennis fans at home entertained
Utilisation of LTA digital channels to deliver the Government’s core public health messages
Donation of thousands of tennis rackets and activity cards for distribution to children in disadvantaged communities via StreetGames
In return for some of the financial support grants and loans being provided, coaches, venues and players that benefit from the extra LTA support during this period will be asked to commit time to contribute back to the sport and their local communities, including undertaking activity to help open up tennis to more people in their local area once the sport is able to resume. This will see them contribute through initiatives such as the LTA’s Big Tennis Weekend free open days, delivering LTA Youth sessions for children, involvement in LTA Rally and delivering coaching activities in schools.
