Worthing tennis club rewarded for protecting where they play
The West Worthing Club was announced as the winner of the Protect Where We Play Award at the prestigious Lawn Tennis Association Awards, presented by Lexus.
Volunteer director Carole Naunton, 55, was on hand to collect the gong from TV adventurer Bear Grylls at the ceremony which was held at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton.
The West Worthing Club was recognised for the club’s outstanding commitments to setting the standard for environmental sustainability in sport, reducing their carbon footprint and safeguarding their community spaces.
“It was great to win this award,” said Naunton. “Tennis clubs can be quite energy-intensive, especially with things like floodlighting. Support from the LTA, such as funding for LED lighting, can really help reduce costs.
“We’ve also installed solar panels, which are saving us around £30,000 a year in energy bills. That’s made a huge difference, allowing us to reinvest into facilities and run more participation events.”
The LTA Awards, presented by Lexus, celebrate the passion, dedication and impact of the people who make tennis and padel thrive across Britain.
First launched in 2015 by former LTA President Cathie Sabin OBE, the awards honour the extraordinary contributions of volunteers, coaches, officials and players who give their time, energy and expertise to grow the game at every level.
More than 3,000 nominations were submitted across 14 award categories, reflecting the incredible depth of talent, service and innovation within British tennis and padel. Each winner was recognised for making an outstanding contribution to the sport and helping open it up to more people than ever before.
LTA President Roy Colabawalla, speaking after the event at the National Tennis Centre, said: “The LTA Awards are a chance to recognise the people and venues who truly keep our sport thriving.
“Grassroots tennis and padel are at the heart of everything we do, and it’s the dedication of volunteers, coaches, officials, and organisers that opens the game up to communities across Britain.
“Every finalist demonstrates remarkable commitment, creating opportunities for others and inspiring the next generation of players.
“Looking ahead, our goal remains clear: to continue to make tennis and padel welcoming, accessible and exciting for everyone, wherever they are and whatever their background.”
For more information about the LTA Awards, visit: https://www.lta.org.uk/awards