Welcome to the Queen’s Club Foundation Summer Newsletter 2026. As we reflect on another successful year, we are proud to share some of the highlights from our programmes and partnerships, all made possible through the continued support of The Queen’s Club, its members, donors, volunteers and wider community.
In this edition, you can read about memorable experiences at Wimbledon for our Inclusive Player Pathway (IPP) scholars, the growth of our inclusive tennis programmes, our annual outreach Summer Festival at the Club for local children and their families, and the re-launch of the Queen’s Club Foundation Friends’ Scheme. We also celebrate the dedication of our volunteers, supporters and partners, whose contributions continue to help us create opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to play, develop and thrive through racket sports. Thank you for being part of our journey and helping us continue to improve lives through sport.
Kate Maurici
Head of Foundation
IPP Scholars Enjoy a Memorable Wimbledon Experience
Three of our Inclusive Player Pathway (IPP) Scholars, Leo, Emerson and Melvil, enjoyed a truly memorable visit to the Wimbledon Championships this summer.
Their day included a tour of the grounds, visits to Centre Court and No.1 Court, and an opportunity to learn about the achievements of Jayant Mistry, the first winner of the Men’s Doubles Wimbledon Wheelchair title. The scholars also received a behind-the-scenes tour of the Media Centre with Jayant before experiencing the excitement and atmosphere of The Championships firsthand.
Opportunities such as these form an important part of our Inclusive Player Pathway programme, helping to inspire and support disabled young people as they develop both their confidence and their connection to the sport.
Launch of the Queen’s Club Foundation Friends’ Scheme
We are delighted to re-launch the Queen’s Club Foundation Friends’ Scheme, offering supporters the opportunity to make a regular contribution and help create lasting opportunities through racket sports. While individual donations make a significant difference, regular giving provides a reliable source of funding that enables us to plan for the future, expand our programmes and deliver sustained impact across the communities we serve.
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we are able to provide inclusive tennis, squash and padel opportunities, support young leaders, and remove barriers to participation for children and young people who may otherwise miss out on the many benefits of sport. By becoming a Friend of the Foundation, members and supporters can play a direct role in helping us reach even more people and build on the success of our growing range of programmes.
We would be delighted to welcome new Friends of the Foundation and are grateful to everyone who chooses to support our work in this way. To find out more, or to join the scheme, please visit our website or contact our Fundraising Manager, Hetty Palmer. Together, we can continue creating lasting impact through racket sports.
The Queen’s Club Foundation Summer Festival Returns
We were delighted to welcome more than 50 Red Ball players and their families to The Queen’s Club for our annual Queen’s Club Foundation Summer Festival. Held at the Junior Centre, the event brought together participants from across our community programmes for an afternoon of tennis, fun activities and games, providing a fantastic opportunity for children and families to celebrate their achievements and enjoy the sport in a supportive and inclusive environment.
One of the highlights of the day was an exhibition match featuring local Yellow Ball players, whose skill and enthusiasm provided inspiration for many of the younger participants. We are also extremely grateful to Goldman Sachs for providing a dedicated team of volunteers from their Community Teamworks Team, whose support helped ensure the event ran smoothly, and to Snowflake Gelato for generously donating their popular tennis ball ice creams, which were enjoyed by players and families alike.
The Summer Festival remains a wonderful celebration of the Foundation’s community programmes and the positive impact of racket sports. We would like to thank everyone who attended and contributed to making the day such a memorable success, and we look forward to welcoming even more participants next year.
Deaf Tennis Festival Brings the Community Together
We were delighted to support a successful Deaf Tennis Festival at Spelthorne Community Tennis Centre in partnership with Middlesex Tennis as part of the Inclusive Hotspots Project and also supported by Surrey Tennis. The event brought together deaf players, families and supporters for an enjoyable afternoon of tennis in a welcoming and inclusive environment, celebrating the power of sport to connect people and build confidence.
It was fantastic to see so many participants engaging with the activities on offer and enjoying the opportunity to meet others from the local deaf community. The festival reflects our continued commitment to increasing access to tennis for deaf and disabled people, ensuring that more individuals can benefit from the physical, social and personal development opportunities that the sport provides.
We are proud to support the growth of deaf tennis opportunities across the region and look forward to building on the success of the festival through future sessions and events at Spelthorne Community Tennis Centre.
Volunteer Spotlight: Arjun Takes on the Royal Parks Half Marathon
This October, one of our dedicated volunteers, Arjun, will be representing the Queen’s Club Foundation in the Royal Parks Half Marathon. Many of our participants and supporters will know Arjun through his involvement in our visually impaired tennis programme, where he volunteers as part of the meet and greet team, as well as from our Sunday morning junior tennis sessions. His commitment, enthusiasm and generosity have made a real difference to the experiences of so many young people and players across our programmes.
Now, Arjun is taking on a new challenge to raise funds for the Foundation and support our mission of improving lives through racket sports. Every contribution to his fundraising campaign will help us continue creating opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to participate in sport, build confidence and develop meaningful connections within their communities.
We are incredibly grateful for Arjun’s ongoing support and wish him the very best as he prepares for race day. Whether through a donation, sharing his fundraising page or simply sending a message of encouragement, any support for Arjun's challenge will be greatly appreciated.
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VI Roadshow Launches at Battersea Park
This summer saw the first stop of the Visually Impaired (VI) Tennis Roadshow at Battersea Park, delivered in partnership with Enthuse as part of the Queen’s Club Foundation and Middlesex Tennis Inclusive Hotspots Project. Despite challenging temperatures, the session proved to be a valuable and positive step in the development of the programme.
A key focus of the day was knowledge sharing and collaboration. Our Head Coach, Liam, worked closely with the Enthuse coaching team, providing support on session delivery, court set-up and the use of specialist equipment, while one of our experienced visually impaired tennis volunteers shared valuable insights gained through her involvement in the programme. These conversations and practical experiences are helping to build confidence and expertise across the wider tennis workforce.
Most importantly, the event generated genuine enthusiasm for the future of visually impaired tennis and brought together individuals who are passionate about creating more opportunities for VI players. Thank you to Marsha de Cordova MP and her office for assisting to facilitate this event. As the roadshow continues, we look forward to building on the lessons learned, strengthening local delivery and expanding accessible pathways into tennis for visually impaired people across the region.
Centre Court Ballot Raises £3,600 for the Foundation
This summer, Queen’s Club members once again enjoyed the unique opportunity to step onto the Club’s iconic Centre Court through the Queen’s Club Foundation Centre Court Ballot. The initiative provides members with a memorable playing experience while raising an incredible £3,600 to support the Foundation’s work improving lives through racket sports.
Following the HSBC Championships, significant efforts were undertaken to prepare Centre Court for play, and we would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Queen’s Club Grounds Team for their outstanding work in returning the court to such exceptional condition. We are also grateful to The Queen’s Club for its continued support of both the Foundation and this much-valued fundraising initiative.
It was wonderful to see members making the most of this special opportunity while contributing to the Foundation’s programmes and activities. One participant, Bruce Young, commented: “Enjoyed a lovely doubles on the Centre Court yesterday afternoon. Many thanks to the Club for organising and particularly the Queen’s Club Foundation, an excellent charity, which is the very worthy recipient of the proceeds of the Centre Court ballot.”
We would like to congratulate all ballot winners who had the chance to play on Centre Court and thank them for their generous support of the Queen’s Club Foundation. Through initiatives such as these, we can continue creating opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to benefit from sport.
New Wheelchair Storage Facility Supports Young Players
The Queen’s Club Foundation is proud to deliver a weekly wheelchair tennis programme for children at The Wimbledon Club in Surrey, providing a welcoming and inclusive environment where participants can develop their skills, build confidence and enjoy the physical and social benefits of sport.
This year, we were delighted to support the installation of a new on-site storage facility, funded through a partnership between the Queen’s Club Foundation, Surrey Tennis, the LTA (Open Court funding) and The Wimbledon Club. While simple in appearance, the facility will have a significant impact on the programme, ensuring that sports wheelchairs are securely stored and readily available for every session. Many of these specialist wheelchairs were provided with support from the Dan Maskell Tennis Trust, helping to ensure that young players have access to high-quality equipment as they progress in the sport.
The new facility removes a key logistical barrier to participation, allowing players to focus on learning, competing and enjoying their time on court. As Erwan Nicolas, Tennis Director at The Wimbledon Club, commented: “We are delighted to continue developing our partnership… Our new storage facility enables all players to benefit from the latest, top-of-the-range wheelchair equipment.”
This investment reflects the strength of collaboration across the tennis community and our shared commitment to creating more accessible opportunities for disabled young people. Together, we are continuing to improve lives through racket sports and support the next generation of wheelchair tennis players.
Thank You for a Fantastic Year
As we conclude another successful year, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been part of the Queen’s Club Foundation’s programmes throughout 2025/26. From our participants, coaches and volunteers to our donors, partners and supporters, your dedication, enthusiasm and belief in our mission have made an incredible difference.
Together, we have continued to create opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to access, enjoy and benefit from racket sports. Whether through tennis, squash or padel, your support has helped us deliver programmes that build confidence, improve wellbeing, foster connections and create lasting positive impact within communities across London and beyond.
We are immensely proud of what we have achieved together this year and are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. As we look forward to the 2026/27 programme year, registration links for our September sessions are now live, and we look forward to welcoming both returning and new participants to our programmes.
Thank you for being part of our journey and for helping us continue to improve lives through racket sports. We hope everyone has enjoyed the summer and look forward to seeing you back on court soon.
Upcoming Dates for your diary
23 September:
QCF vs MCT Fundraising Event
18 November:
QCF Big Give Dinner at QC
1 December:
QCF Christmas Drinks from 6.30pm at QC
11 December:
Rally for Life Festive Tea at QC
Sponsors
We are always looking for sponsors to support our community club festivals and events. If you would like to match-fund a QCF campaign linked to a festival, or event, or if your company would like to support an event with a major donation, please contact us to discuss at [email protected]
A huge thank you to our equipment sponsors, Wilson
A call for volunteers
We are also always looking for people to support our outreach work. If you would like to join our database of volunteers, please send an e-mail to [email protected]. We have a variety of ways in which you can assist us, and would be delighted to discuss how you can help.
21 September 2026