MINISTER FOR SPORT PROMISES TO HOLD
LTA ACCOUNTABLE FOR GOVERNMENT FUNDING

Gerry Sutcliffe, the Minister for Sport, has written to Tenniscoachuk promising that the LTA will be held accountable for the substantial government funding they have received in recent years.

In the letter, received last week, the Minister (pictured right) states that:

“£480 million has been allocated to 46 National Governing Bodies (NCBs) over the next four years to deliver on plans to grow their sport and deliver new participants. With investment comes responsibility, and these plans will be auditable throughout the process as we ensure participation increases across the community. Those that do not deliver can now be held to account through the funding system.

The Lawn Tennis Association is the recognised NCB for Tennis, and as such have been charged with establishing and delivering a plan for the development of the whole of the sport. They have been strongly supported by public investment through Sport England and have been commissioned to deliver outcomes that not only grow the game at grass roots, but improve the quality of experience for those already participating in Tennis. The LTA will be held to account for this investment by Sport England directly through the funding system. As part of the ongoing process of monitoring the spend of NCBs, Sport England assure themselves that the sport is being governed appropriately and properly”.

As well as the clear message of intent to hold the LTA to account for the funding received, the minister has also formally invited Tenniscoachuk to meet with him to discuss the issues facing coaches in the sport and the use of government money to fund anti-competitive initiatives in our industry.

Do you have any questions/issues you would like raised on behalf of coaches with the Minister of Sport? Send your views to mike.lynch@btca.org.uk - your comments will be treated with the strictest confidence.