The John James Disability Inclusion Award presented by the Dan Maskell Tennis Trust and Middlesex Tennis 

John James

Everybody at Middlesex Tennis was saddened to learn of the death of our President John James OBE, who passed away on 13 June 2023. John was Middlesex County LTA President from 2003 and acting Chairman of the Board in 2021-2022 before our current Chair Phil Veasey came into post. 

If there is such a thing as ‘tennis royalty’ then John was it – serving British Tennis and tennis around the world in a glittering career that is captured by the International Tennis Federation here.

John was a charismatic, warm, and friendly man who oozed enthusiasm for his beloved sport of Tennis. Although as a proud Welshman, we are sure Rugby Union came a close second!

John was also a trustee of the Dan Maskell Trust and a big supporter of disability tennis.

The John James Disability Inclusion Award Information

Over the next 3 years, the Dan Maskell Tennis Trust and Middlesex Tennis are looking to support up to 3 existing tennis/padel projects or programmes being run at venues within Middlesex (tennis/padel clubs/parks/community/faith venues) each year who are doing great things around disability and inclusion. We want each of the successful projects or programmes to continue to build on their great work and we will provide a grant of up to £1,500*.

The awards will be provided to projects or programmes who are already delivering pioneering and innovative tennis/padel projects for disabled people with priority given to projects or programmes for disabled people from different backgrounds – especially for women, LGBTQ+, low socio-economic groups, and ethnically diverse groups.

Application Process

• Apply via this application form
• Applications close on 24^th January 2025
• The successful projects or programmes will be selected by a member of the John James family, the Middlesex Tennis Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group and representatives of the Dan Maskell Tennis Trust and will be notified by 28th February 2025.
• Grants will be presented at the Middlesex Tennis Awards Evening on 8^th March 2025 at The Queen’s Club.

Please click on the links for further information on Middlesex Tennis and the Dan Maskell Tennis Trust.

Eligibility Criteria

• Projects must be based in Middlesex or programmes run at Middlesex Registered Venues
• Any coaches used to deliver projects or programmes must hold LTA Coach Accreditation
• The person applying must be the main contact for the project or programme
• A short, written statement of no more than 500 words must be provided highlighting:
  • A description of your existing disability inclusion project or programme and how you would use the grant to build on this great work. 
  • A financial breakdown of how you would use a grant of up to £1,500.
  • Details of any matched funding the project or programme can provide. 
  • Full names and qualifications of any tennis coaches involved in the project or programme.
  • Details of the members who work together on the project or programme e.g. committee members, coaches etc. 
  • Details of any local partners such as local schools, youth clubs, local community/faith centres and voluntary sector organisations who are involved.
  • Detail the impact the grant will have on your project or programme.

*Grants may be awarded in instalments and project / programme progress reports may be requested.

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