AELTC LOCAL COMMUNITY PROGRAMME

The All England Club and The Championships maintains an extensive community investment programme of donations, charitable contributions and other benefits directed primarily at helping the local community, especially the London Boroughs of Merton and Wandsworth.

This is in addition to the fact that every year the All England Club passes over the financial surplus of The Championships to the Lawn Tennis Association for the development of tennis.

‘The Road to Wimbledon’
In April 2001, the Club launched ‘The Road to Wimbledon,’ a combined local and national junior tennis initiative aimed at giving thousands of juniors the chance to play tennis and at the home of The Championships (see information sheet - AELTC Junior Programme - for full details).

Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative (WJTI): 

  • Through the dedicated WJTI coaching team, headed by Dan Bloxham, AELTC & WJTI continue to lead the way in delivering tennis coaching and promoting a fitness lifestyle and sports education programme in Merton and Wandsworth schools.

  • Over 100,000 children have had a racket put in their hand by WJTI.

  • Around sixty schools are visited annually in Merton and Wandsworth.  Over 500 school visits have taken place since 2001.

  • Each weekend approximately 300 children attend the tennis coaching held at the Club 45 weekends a year (10.00am - 4.00pm).

  • 30 WJTI players are involved in the WJTI Squad, training twice a week.

  • In 2010 the WJTI Squad were honoured to meet The Queen during her visit to the AELTC and to feature on The Queen’s Christmas Speech.

  • In 2011, four WJTI Squad players have achieved Aegon Future Star status with the LTA, their recognition of potential at the highest level.

  • In 2011, Elizabeth Nyenwe became the first WJTI player to achieve a tennis scholarship to an American university and is playing and studying at SE Missouri.

  • WJTI has helped players learn to coach tennis, pass LTA coaching qualifications and coach the young players following on.  The young coaches assist WJTI coaches and receive mentoring on their coaching journey as in their playing one.

HSBC Road to Wimbledon National 14 and Under Challenge 

  • The largest national junior grass court tournament involving some 20,000 young players. 

  • The National Finals, 64 boys and 64 girls, made up of the 44 County winners and 20 best runners-up are held on Wimbledon’s Championship grass courts in August 

Museum Education Programme

  • Part of The Road to Wimbledon andlaunched in September 2001.

  • In the last year over 5,000 children and young people have taken part in educational sessions, making a total of around 25,000 since the Department was created in 2001.

  • Education Programme provides curriculum based workshops and tours for 5 to 18 year olds, as well as lectures for under- and post-graduate students.

  • Primary School Programme supports the National Curriculum subject areas of History, Art and Design, and Literacy.

  • Secondary School Programme has been developed to meet the needs of students studying for GCSE, BTEC and A-Level courses in Business Studies, Leisure and Tourism, and Physical Education.

  • Education Department recently launched its first Community Art Project to celebrate the 125th Championships. The project involves 125 people, drawn from local schools, art groups and a tennis club, turning 125 wooden rackets into unique pieces of art that celebrate The Championships. The completed work will be displayed in businesses in Wimbledon Village during this year’s tournament.

Other benefits to the area

  • Every year the Club sponsors around 650 hanging baskets and planters that dress and beautify Wimbledon Village and Southfields.

  • Wimbledon Park Tennis Courts – payment for the resurfacing of 10 artificial grass courts in Wimbledon Park in May 2003, having originally renewed 15 tennis courts in Wimbledon Park in 1988.

  • Wimbledon Village Summer Fair - main sponsor of the Summer Fair since 2003.  WJTI children will again provide a demonstration of their skills at the Fair.

  • Young Ambassadors - young people from secondary schools in Merton given the opportunity to become tennis ambassadors by embarking on a year-long leadership and volunteering project in a joint venture between the All England Club and the Merton School Sports Partnership.   On completion of the project, the ambassadors have a recognised qualification in tennis leadership for use at school and within the Borough. 

  • Increase in trade for certain local businesses during the course of the year and opportunities for employment for local people.
  • Financial donations to local charities.

  • Contribution to installation of CCTV scheme in Wimbledon town centre,

  • Contribution to Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators to assist in the publication of a book on the natural history of the Common and to the restoration of the azalea dell in Cannizaro Park, Wimbledon.

  • Donation towards the St Mary’s Church, Wimbledon Village, Renewal Appeal for the renovation of the 19th Century organ.  Earlier donation towards the floodlighting of St Mary’s Church.

  • Use of Covered Courts offered for use by local tennis clubs and schools.

  • Benefits to local community arising from Section 106 Agreement relating to the Club’s Long Term Plan (eg improvement to public transport access at Wimbledon Mainline Station; financial assistance to Merton Borough’s tennis development programme; floodlighting for tennis courts in Wimbledon Park).

  • Raynes Park Sports Ground facilities offered for use by local schools and sports clubs.

  • Merton Youth Concert Band and Jazz Orchestra invited to play at The Championships.

  • Monies from sale of hydrangeas donated to local children’s charities.

  • Alexandra Rose Day Collection (usually on first Tuesday of The Championships).

  • Use of courts for certain charity tennis events (eg finals of the Save the Children Fund national tournament).