Diversity & Inclusion
Inclusivity at Warwickshire
Everyone should feel comfortable to enjoy their sport at any Warwickshire venue, regardless of background, disability, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or race and ethnicity. Tennis and padel should truly be open to all.
The LTA has made this useful video about EDI and its benefits for all. Warwickshire Tennis’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion policy is here. Every registered venue must have its own ED&I policy to uphold standards and prevent any form of discrimination or harassment. A sample policy can be found alongside the LTAs guidance on EDI here.
Information on inclusive sessions is below and Warwickshire also has many Rally Allies trained venues supported by Pride in Tennis https://www.prideintennis.org.uk/.
We are also delighted to be supporting the musical ‘Fairlight’ in 2026. Read more about this exciting event here.
Our lead on EDI is Susan Hopcraft and our lead for Disability Tennis is Sarah Heaton. If you have questions or would like support, please contact us.
Venue Sessions
There are plenty of sessions running in the County for everyone. Some champion underrepresented groups and some focus on differing abilities. For example:
Programme 1
Carolle and Iman – free women’s tennis for beginners
Venue: Moseley Tennis Club
Contact: carolleandimantennis@gmail.com
Programme 2
FREE women's tennis - for beginners
12 weeks of sessions delivered by diverse and female coaches, with refreshments.
Starting 11th June, 10am - 11.30am
Venue: Coventry and North Warwickshire Sports Ground, Binley Road, Coventry, CV3 1HB
Contact info@everythingtennis.co.uk or 07717 057547
Wheelchair tennis - at Billesley Tennis Centre, Warwick University, Blossomfield in Solihull https://www.lta.org.uk/play/inclusion-disability/wheelchair-tennis/
Programme 1
Venue: Beechcroft Tennis Club
Contact: matt.corp@live.co.uk
Day: Friday
Time: 12noon - 1pm
How to book: via club website
Programme 2
Venue: Leamington LT&SC
Contact: office@lltsc.co.uk
Day: Wednesday
Time: 11am - 12noon
How to book: email the contact above
Visually Impaired tennis – Edgbaston Priory, Sutton Coldfield TC
https://www.lta.org.uk/play/inclusion-disability/visually-impaired-tennis/
Mental Health – King’s Norton TC (contact MattHillmanTennis@hotmail.com)
Programme 1
Special Olympics tennis sessions
Venue: Sutton Coldfield Tennis Club
Contact: email Ian@langima.com
Day: Every Tuesday
Time: 6pm-7pm
How to book: contact Ian
Learning Disability – numerous sessions across the area delivered to schools and also at Miners Park and War Memorial Park in Coventry (contact rbollands@earlsdon.coventry.sch.uk)
https://www.lta.org.uk/play/inclusion-disability/learning-disability-tennis/
How can your venue get involved with Diversity and Inclusion
We would like more coaches and venues to be able to offer some form of inclusive tennis or padel. We are also open to providing financial assistance for projects that are being delivered at Warwickshire registered venues which promote diversity and inclusion in tennis and padel, and increase participation to under-represented communities. If you have an idea, please complete the form below.
Proposal Requests
Funding
If you would like to access funding for a coach training course or club initiative, please contact us and we will see what we can do within our annual budget. The areas that we would particularly like to support are:
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Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (primarily run under the LTA’s Open Court programme)
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Ethnic minorities
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LGBTQ+
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Lower socio-economic groups
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Women and Girls
We will shortly be asking venues in Warwickshire to post their jobs here in the meantime please go to the link below an use the filters to select Warwickshire
2025 Key Diversity and Inclusion Dates
February – LGBT+ History Month
6 February – Mental Health: Time to Talk Day
3–9 February – Race Equality Week
8 March – International Women’s Day
17–23 March – Neurodiversity Celebration Week
June – LGBT+ Pride Month
16–22 June – Refugee Week
18 July – 19 August – South Asian Heritage Month
22–28 September – National Inclusion Week
October – Black History Month
3 December – International Day for the Rights of Disabled People
Competitions
Warwickshire is the home County of Great Britain's most decorated female wheelchair tennis player, 13-time Grand Slam winner Jordanne Whiley. Jordanne was born in Halesowen and although she retired in 2021, can we inspire and nurture more local talent?
We are working closely with the LTA’s Open Court programme to provide opportunities for wheelchair, deaf, visually impaired and learning disability tennis, amongst other different formats of the game.
For more information on inclusive tennis opportunities please click on the link below
Special Olympics
We are thrilled to share that Sutton Coldfield Tennis club is now offering weekly 'Special Olympic' Tennis Sessions. Taking place every Tuesday evening. For more information please contact: suttoncoldfieldso@outlook.com
Warwickshire Support
We also understand that as an individual with disabilities, you might seek additional support and information to fully enjoy your initial tennis experience. That's why we're dedicated to assisting you in finding a suitable venue so please contact us for more information.
We may be able to offer funding for coaches to undertake courses to deliver tennis for various needs. Please get in touch if you have a proposal to enhance tennis opportunities in your area.