The Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative (WJTI) is the AELTC’s community outreach programme, funded by the Wimbledon Foundation. The programme started in 2001 and has since reached over 200,000 school children across Merton and Wandsworth. . The programme introduces children from local schools to tennis, helping them develop skills, confidence and a love for the sport. Our aim is to make tennis accessible to all, regardless of background or experience.

“THE MISSION OF THE WJTI IS TO PROVIDE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE LONDON BOROUGHS OF MERTON AND WANDSWORTH, WITH A FOCUS ON THOSE FROM UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE IN TENNIS, DEVELOP LIFE SKILLS AND BE PART OF A WELCOMING COMMUNITY.”

How It Works

The Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative visits primary schools across Merton and Wandsworth, delivering six weeks of free tennis lessons to students – with a focus on schools that have the highest pupil premium numbers. During the summer term we visit a range of schools within the boroughs for one-off taster sessions, getting students excited about tennis and staying active.

Following our school visits, a number of children are invited to join our free weekly coaching sessions at the Community Tennis Centre, where they can continue to play and progress until the age of 18. Only children selected through our schools visits are eligible to join the weekly coaching sessions. . Each year, around 300 children aged 4-18 take part in the programme.

In the 2024 – 25 academic year:

• Our coaches visited 18 schools in Merton and 15 in Wandsworth to deliver the six-week coaching lessons
• 21 schools were visited for one-off sessions  
• We engaged with over 4,700 children from Nursery to Year 6 

During the academic year:

• 91% of pupils said they would like to play tennis again 
• 65 new children joined the weekly coaching programme 

Our Goals

• To offer as many local children as possible the opportunity to play tennis.
• Widen participation and promote a healthy, active lifestyle.
• Help children gain valuable life skills through sport.
• Equip teachers with the confidence and knowledge to continue delivering tennis sessions after the programme ends.

Schools feedback:

‘It has benefitted the children in that they are receiving specialist coaching (it is always good for them to hear different voices); it has benefitted the teachers in that they are receiving CPD (they all went out to observe the session); it is making a sport such as tennis ‘more accessible’ for many children who are from deprived backgrounds and then there is the longer term impact for those children who are invited to training session with WJTI outside of school. We have pupils in Year 5 who are still attending and progressing who joined the initiative after accepting the offer in Year 1.’  (Wandsworth Primary School Teacher)

Contact information: wjti@aeltc.com