Foundation that is giving the humane touch

London: The establishment of the Wimbledon Foundation has provided a positive framework for the co-ordination and enhancement of our community and charity activities and has been an exciting and important development for the Club, our Members and The Championships- Philip Brook, Chairman, The All England Lawn Tennis Club.

The Wimbledon Foundation, established in 2013, is the charity of The All England Lawn Tennis Club. It builds on the success of an extensive programme of community and charitable activities over a number of years. Its aim is to change people’s lives using the resources and heritage of the All England Lawn Tennis Club and The Championships.

They include making contribution to meeting social needs in the local community of Merton and Wandsworth; using the power of sport, particularly tennis, to advance young people’s education and development; encouraging and supporting charities and community activities relating to The Championships. The Wimbledon Foundation manages a significant programme of grants to charities each year in support of the Foundation’s objectives.

Support given to the Wimbledon Foundation by the All England Club and The Championships is in addition to the fact that every year the large majority of the financial surplus of The Championships is passed to the Lawn Tennis Association or its group for the development of tennis at all levels in Britain.

GIVING

The Wimbledon Foundation manages a significant programme of grants to charities each year in support of the Foundation’s objectives. In June 2014, the Wimbledon Foundation Community Fund was launched in conjunction with the London Community Foundation. The aim of the fund is to distribute up to £100,000 annually to local organisations tackling social problems in the London Boroughs of Merton and Wandsworth.

Small grants to local organisations are a vital part of the funding landscape-Sonal Shah, Chief Executive, London Community Foundation Organisations can apply for grants of up to £5,000 towards projects that focus on meeting local needs through one or more of the following:

• Improving mental and physical health and well-being
• Addressing education, training and employability needs
• Addressing poverty, disadvantage and isolation
• Encouraging community cohesion and improve inter-community relationships

Priority is also given to organisations supporting the following beneficiary groups: BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) groups, disability groups, lone parent families, young people, older people and the unemployed.

LEARNING

Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum has a well established Learning department catering for all age groups and abilities. The Learning programme is both fun and inspiring with all visits designed to be flexible to meet the needs of each group.

All ages of visitor are offered the opportunity to learn through a wide range of subjects and activities designed to open up the world of Wimbledon and engage all with the fascinating story of lawn tennis. Leaders can choose from workshops, lectures and/or guided tours of the grounds. All visits include entrance to the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum.