“He’s loving it! I can’t believe it! It’s Wimbledon next!” – Parent of participant

On Saturday, 25 July 2026, Access Sport and LTA Tennis Foundation came together once again to host the second Acez Inclusive Tennis Festival at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton.

The festival brought together 78 disabled and disadvantaged young people plus their families, for a day of free, accessible and inclusive tennis and padel.

Launched in 2023 through our partnership with the LTA Tennis Foundation, Acez empowers tennis and padel clubs to create welcoming, inclusive opportunities for disabled, neurodivergent and disadvantaged young people. Three years on, the programme has grown into a thriving national network, helping to transform tennis and padel clubs into inclusive, welcoming spaces, opening the sport up to young people who may otherwise have missed out.

The festival provided an opportunity not only for young people to enjoy tennis and padel in a supportive, accessible environment, but also to celebrate the significant growth and meaningful impact the Acez programme has made.

Since 2023, we have worked with more than 60 groups across the country to start or expand their disability-inclusive tennis and padel provision. Through our Train, Support and Equip approach, clubs have gained the skills, confidence and resources needed to deliver sustainable opportunities for disabled and disadvantaged young people in their local communities.

The growth of Acez has demonstrated that, with the right support, inclusive tennis and padel can thrive. More clubs are now delivering regular sessions, more coaches are confident in delivering inclusive activities and more young people are experiencing the physical, social and mental wellbeing benefits of the sport.

Reflecting on the past three years of the Acez programme, Helen Rowbotham, Access Sport’s Chief Executive, shared:

“Together, we've built a strong foundation for disability inclusive tennis and padel, helping more disabled children and young people access the physical, social and mental wellbeing benefits of the sport. We're incredibly proud of what we've achieved together.”

Throughout the festival, young people were able to take part in a range of accessible tennis activities designed to ensure that everyone could participate, regardless of ability or experience. The festival also shone a light on the brilliant clubs and coaches driving inclusive tennis and padel forward in their communities.

Jonny Fenner, Access Sport’s Tennis Development Manager, shared:

“The Acez Festival is all about bringing people together to enjoy tennis and padel and experience the many benefits these sports can bring to disabled and neurodivergent children and young people. It’s always wonderful to see so many smiling faces, and we’re incredibly grateful to the coaches and volunteers who go above and beyond to adapt activities for each individual, helping everyone feel included, supported and able to enjoy the day.”

Pete, Tennis Coach from Sodbury Tennis Club, shared:

“I always did a small amount of inclusive tennis, but until Jonny helped out, it kind of opened up the world to do more. Having Jonny and Access Sport behind me just gives me the contacts I need, the people I can ask questions to, if there’s ever a problem I know I can go to them.”

Juvern, Tennis Coach from Vamos Tennis, shared:

“We’ve been working with Access Sport for a few months now, and since then we started running Big Tennis Weekend and introduced an inclusive family session within our programme, which has been a great success. Working with Jonny has been great, very responsive and full of lots of ideas!”

As the programme continues to grow, together with the LTA Tennis Foundation, we remain committed to removing barriers, supporting clubs and coaches, and ensuring that even more young people can access the life-changing benefits of tennis.

Interested in learning more about Acez? Get in touch with us using the link below.

Acez Tennis Expression of Interest >

To see the images from the festival, please click the link below.

Acez Inclusive Tennis Festival, July 2027 >