inclusion
Inclusive Tennis
Inclusion is not a standalone project; it is central to everything we do in North and West London. From grassroots programmes in parks and their partner parks and schools, to competitive and performance pathways, we want to ensure that people of all backgrounds, abilities and circumstances can engage and thrive though tennis and padel.
Tennis is for Everyone.
Martin Etheridge leads on this programme, which features our Inclusion Mentors and our Inclusive County Championships. Martin supports the many projects across the county including Get Set 4 Tennis, The Queens Club Foundation, Mayfield LTC, Hadley Wood LTC and many more.
Our work aligns directly with the LTA’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) vision to “open tennis up” to everyone, everywhere. We share the LTA’s commitment to removing barriers, increasing diversity at all levels of the game, and creating welcoming environments where everyone feels they belong. Through initiatives such as our Inclusive Hotspots programme, our network of Inclusion Mentors, and the development of inclusive competitions and venues, we are helping to turn this vision into a reality across Middlesex and beyond.
Visit the LTA Website to find out about different impairments, and the tennis competition pathways on offer.
Our Inclusion Mentors
Martin is supported by 4 Inclusion Mentors: Linda Almond, Stuart Wilkinson, Jo Grant-Baisley and Jon Wildman. They provide expert support to Middlesex Tennis venues, helping them to deliver inclusive offers that reflect and serve their communities. Through hands-on guidance — from developing inclusive sessions and adapting facilities, to supporting coach education and inclusive club practices — our Inclusion Mentors are helping clubs to grow as places where everyone feels recognised and supported.
Middlesex-Surrey County Championships
Our Flagship County Championships are a centrepiece of tennis in Middlesex. Importantly, the inclusion events within the championships — including wheelchair tennis, learning disability tennis, and visually impaired competitions — are delivered in partnership with Surrey Tennis, highlighting our commitment to making high-level competitive tennis welcoming and accessible to all. We are exploring opportunities to expand these inclusive partnerships to work with additional counties.
Funding Inclusion
We want to see inclusion enabled at every level — starting with our venues. Through the Middlesex Venue Diversity and Inclusion Grants, we are directly investing in clubs, parks, and community spaces that want to launch or grow inclusive programmes. These grants help support small-scale facility adaptations, coach provision and education and the purchase of specialist equipment — providing practical resources that allow venues to deliver truly inclusive offers and open up their activities to a more diverse range of players, coaches, and volunteers.
Recognising and rewarding excellence in inclusion is vital for long-term change. Through the John James Disability and Inclusion Awards, presented in partnership with the Dan Maskell Tennis Trust, Middlesex Tennis celebrates and supports three venues each year that demonstrate outstanding commitment to inclusive delivery. These awards not only highlight best practice but also provide practical backing for venues.
For more information please contact our Inclusion Lead, Martin at [email protected]