The LTA has created the ‘IDEA’ group, a collective of almost 50 people drawn from all areas of the sport with the task of advising British tennis’ governing body on inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility.
The group includes players, coaches, officials, volunteers and fans who have all had a range of positive and negative experiences around inclusion and diversity in tennis, and provides a platform for them to voice and contribute their experiences and opinions in order for the sport to adapt and progress.
The new strategy follows an open letter published by Chief Executive Scott Lloyd last year outlining the LTA’s commitment to firstly listen, and then put in place the actions needed to effect real change as part of its drive to open the sport up.
Members of the IDEA group have been recruited following a series of focus groups. Topics raised and discussed are being used by the LTA to help shape the new inclusion and diversity strategy for tennis.
IDEA member Kate Maurici explained: “I put my name forward for the IDEA group because I saw it as an opportunity to use my experience of delivering community tennis to make a difference to a wider group across the country and ask difficult questions, challenging the current status quo.
“I would like to see the group help to implement some innovative and effective changes to tennis, opening it up further to under-represented groups.”
Miles Daley, another group member, said: “I decided to put my name forward as a member of the group because I want to help create a more diverse tennis culture within the UK.
“The BLM movement highlighted the reality of the struggles that many ethnic minorities face in everyday life, and if we are striving to make change within our society, our sports need to follow suit.
“I feel as though through my experiences as a player and coach, I could be a voice within a group of people to help move tennis in Britain forward, and towards making positive changes that benefit more people.”
Vicky Williams, LTA People Director, said: “We are really excited to have been able to bring together such a fantastic and diverse group of people to form the IDEA group, and we’d like to thank everyone who has volunteered to be part of it.
“We are steadfast in our commitment to listen to people who have views to express and experiences to share, and establishing this group is a clear demonstration of that. It is great to hear the positive feedback we have had from group members on the sessions we have already held, which from our perspective proved to be both incredibly inspiring and valuable in helping us to develop our forthcoming inclusion and diversity strategy.”
