WHITSTABLE LTC INCLUSION PROGRAMME – AN INCLUSIVE SUCCESS STORY FROM VANESSA OAKES, DISABILITY LEAD

Whether it’s walking, wheelchair, sensory, dementia-friendly, limited mobility, or pan-disability tennis that’s required, WLTC aims to accommodate. The club is passionate about making tennis as inclusive as possible, running an ever-expanding and exciting community programme. An important part of this is outreach. Our motto is: “If you can’t come to our courts, then we will come to you.”

Adults’ disability tennis

These sessions continue to be really popular, with ever-increasing numbers. The last session of every month is held at the University of Kent. The warm, dry facilities and free coaching support given by Nick Skelton to our wheelchair players are very much appreciated.

Children’s disability padel

Commencing May 2025, delivered by Inclusive Sport CIC in partnership with Smash Padel Whitstable. Funding has been secured from Kent Everyday Active to get this off the ground.

Outreach dementia-friendly tennis

We continue to provide these sessions for residents living with dementia at both Bradbury Grange and Harrier Lodge. Techniques used are based on sensory tennis. Residents who attend enjoy an hour of gentle stretching, balancing balls on rackets, rallying, gripping and releasing, music, dancing, conversation, balloon tennis and plenty of laughter.

Hannah, on the left of the photo, celebrated her 100th birthday last month. Surely WLTC’s oldest player?

Wheelchair / limited mobility tennis

Limited mobility and wheelchair sessions were started in response to the fact that not everyone who needs a sports chair is a full-time wheelchair user. Participants enjoy an hour of coaching on a weekly basis.

Outreach – day centre for those with physical and learning disabilities

These important sessions continue to run on Friday afternoons at Swalecliffe Hall and enable those who face barriers to attending our courts to access racquet-based sports and fitness.

A Wimbledon-themed afternoon for residents of Bradbury Grange

Residents, family members and friends attended a Wimbledon-themed afternoon tea at the courts in June 2024 with Pimm’s, refreshments and a live jive band. The event was attended by the Lord and Lady Mayoress. Wheelchair-accessible buses were funded by WLTC to transport the residents.

Thanks to Debbie, Jonny, Steve R, Mandy, Christine, Jane, Linda and Bryan for volunteering.

WLTC at the Inclusive Tennis Festival in Bromley – August 2024

Imran, Joe and Daniel represented WLTC at the Inclusive Tennis Festival held in Bromley and gained valuable points for their respective teams.

Other news

We were delighted to receive £500 at the Kent Tennis Awards 2025 in recognition of our ever-expanding community programme.

The LTA now regularly signposts coaches who are starting their own inclusion programmes to us. Using our coaches’ experience and model, WLTC has been able to support, encourage and influence inclusion and make a positive impact at a national level.

As ever, this is a team effort. Thanks to Steve Rye, Steve Lund and Christine Double, who attend the LD sessions and bring such joy to everyone; to all the volunteers who help at events; and to Mandy, who supports the sessions at Bradbury Grange purely on a voluntary basis. And thanks to the committee as a whole for their enthusiasm, trust, passion and unwavering support.