The Dan Maskell Tennis Trust

Charity Number: 1133589

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M

Geographic Focus: Northern Ireland, Scotland, Throughout England And Wales

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Quick Stats

Annual Giving: £56,008 (2022)
Grant Range: £600 (individuals) - £1,600 (groups/clubs/projects)
Decision Time: Within 7 days of quarterly trustee meeting
Geographic Focus: UK-wide (applicants must be UK citizens and UK residents)
Application Frequency: 4 rounds per year (quarterly)
Wheelchair Funding: Up to £5,000 for specialist tennis wheelchairs

Contact Details

Website: www.danmaskelltennistrust.org.uk

Email: info@danmaskelltennistrust.org.uk

Phone: 01737 831707 / 07578 569957

Grants & Communications Manager: Liz Terry (Lead Safeguarding Officer)

Overview

The Dan Maskell Tennis Trust was founded in 1997 as a restricted fund of The Tennis Foundation, becoming an independent registered charity (No. 1133589) in 2010. Named after Dan Maskell CBE, the BBC's legendary “voice of Wimbledon” who served as the RAF's first rehabilitation officer and was awarded an OBE in 1945 for his work with disabled aircrew, the Trust carries forward his passion for “rehabilitation through sport.” With total income of £150,340 and expenditure of £143,636 in 2024, the Trust specializes in supporting disabled people and disability tennis programmes through grant aid. In 2022, the Trust approved 115 grant applications including 36 individual tennis wheelchairs and 73 monetary grants totaling £56,008. The Trust's principal funding sources include donations from the Wimbledon Foundation, and it maintains a reserve policy of retaining two years of operating costs. The charity has helped hundreds of individuals, clubs and groups access tennis, including supporting the early careers of wheelchair tennis champions like Alfie Hewett, who received a tennis wheelchair from the Trust in 2011.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Individual Grants (up to £600):

Coaching lessons with LTA Licensed coaches
Court hire fees
Tennis wheelchairs (with contribution required from recipient ranging £300-£1,800)
Tennis rackets and equipment
Course fees for official LTA Development/Coaching courses

Group/Club/Project Grants (up to £1,600):

Tennis wheelchairs for club use
Equipment packages (over £400 value) including rackets, balls, mini nets, and coaching aids such as cones and throw-down marker lines
Court hire for disability programmes
Coaching fees for group sessions

Specialist Tennis Wheelchairs (up to £5,000):

Four wheelchair types available for different skill levels
Requires applicant contribution of £300-£1,800 depending on chair type
Available for both individuals and groups/clubs

Priority Areas

The Trust supports people with all disabilities to play tennis, including but not limited to:

Wheelchair tennis (primary focus)
Learning disability tennis
Blind and visually impaired tennis (including sound balls for VI players)
Deaf tennis
Mental health support through tennis
Physical impairments
Autism and other developmental conditions

The Trust funds individuals, groups, special schools, disability programmes, tennis clubs, and disability sports associations across the UK.

What They Don't Fund

Explicitly excluded:

Clothing or apparel
Transport costs
Electronic equipment
Publicity or advertising materials
Catering
Holdalls or sports bags

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Governance and Leadership

President: Dame Elaine Paige DBE (since 2010) - “Elaine adores tennis and passionately supports the work of the DMTT”

Honorary Vice President: John Barrett MBE (founding President)

Chairman: Sue Wolstenholme OBE (serving since at least 2019)

Executive Director: Gilly English

Grants & Communications Manager: Liz Terry (also Lead Safeguarding Officer)

Trustees (2025):

Sue Wolstenholme OBE (Chairman)
Lesley Cundy
Rob McCowen
Noel McShane
Steph Trill
Geraint Richards

Vice Presidents (notable figures):

Tim Henman OBE
Virginia Wade OBE
Andrew Castle
Greg Rusedski
Sir Geoff Hurst
Mark Cox MBE
Marcus Buckland
Sir Geoffrey Cass
Jonathan Lane OBE
Robin Maskell-Charlton

The charity has six trustees who serve without remuneration, and no employees receive benefits over £60,000. Sue Wolstenholme OBE, as Chairman, signed the 2022 Annual Report noting: "At 31st December 2022, and at the time of writing, the charity's financial position was satisfactory."

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted online through the Dan Maskell Tennis Trust website (www.danmaskelltennistrust.org.uk). The application form is accessible via the “Apply for a Grant” section.

Application Deadlines (Quarterly Rounds):

Round 1: February 1
Round 2: May 10
Round 3: August 3
Round 4: October 26

Key Application Requirements:

All applicants must be UK citizens and resident in the UK
Provide detailed information about tennis activities and current participation
Specify the exact item(s) or support requested
Include relevant supporting documentation

Reimbursement Basis: Grants are paid on a reimbursement basis, meaning applicants typically need to pay upfront and claim back costs.

Decision Timeline

Trustee Meetings: Held four times per year, shortly after each application deadline
Decision Notification: Within 7 days of the trustee meeting date
Total Timeline: Approximately 1-2 weeks from deadline to notification

The Trust states: “Applications will be considered by the Trustees of Dan Maskell Tennis Trust which meets 4 times a year, and you will get an answer about your funding request within 7 days of the meeting date.”

Success Rates

In 2022, the Trust approved 115 grant applications consisting of:

36 individual tennis wheelchairs
1 tennis wheelchair for groups
5 tennis equipment bags
39 monetary grants for individuals
34 monetary grants for groups

While specific success rate percentages are not published, the Trust states: “In all cases, Dan Maskell Tennis Trust will consider each application on merit.”

Reapplication Policy

2-Year Moratorium: The Trust has imposed a 2-year moratorium on grants for the same purpose. If you have applied during the past 2 years for a specific type of support, you must wait until 2 years have passed before reapplying for that same purpose.

Exception: If you are applying for a different purpose (e.g., requesting a coaching grant when you previously received an equipment bag or tennis wheelchair), you are eligible to apply immediately.

This policy applies regardless of whether your previous application was successful or unsuccessful.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Trust's documented priorities and funded projects, the following factors enhance application success:

1. Provide Detailed Information

The Trust explicitly requests: “Please give as much information as possible about your tennis activities.” Strong applications include specific details about:

Current tennis participation and commitment
How the grant will enable continued or enhanced participation
Training schedules and coaching arrangements
Long-term tennis goals and development plans

2. Demonstrate Clear Need and Impact

Case studies show funded applicants clearly articulated:

Freya Willock (visually impaired): Received funding for coaching to support her development
Asher Byrne (autism with PDA profile): Mother's application led to coaching at Nottingham Tennis Centre
Georgia Routledge (Cerebral Palsy): Funded for new racket and individual coaching; subsequently became women's World Champion in PST3 classification
Ebony Court (wheelchair user): Received custom-made chair; application demonstrated how it would improve comfort and court mobility

3. Align with LTA Standards

The Trust prioritizes LTA-affiliated activity:

Coaching must be with LTA Licensed coaches
Course fees must be for official LTA Development/Coaching courses
This demonstrates quality assurance and professional standards

4. Understand Funding Categories

Applications succeed when they fit clearly within funded categories:

Individual development (coaching, equipment, court hire)
Club/group programme development
Specialist equipment (particularly wheelchairs)
Coach training and development for disability tennis

5. Show Programme Sustainability

Group applications that demonstrate ongoing commitment receive support:

Whitstable Lawn Tennis Club: Received funding to “further expand on its existing disability provision” (emphasis on expansion of established programme)
We Do Tennis: Received special project funding in both 2023 and 2024 for Rebound Active+ network and coach training
Disability Sports Coach: Partnership project provided 30 equipment packs to individual club members

6. Consider Strategic Partnerships

The Trust values collaborative approaches:

Disability Sports Coach partnership with DMTT and LTA to support Community Clubs
We Do Tennis receiving special project funding for network development
Stanmore House School supporting children with complex needs

7. Common Reasons for Rejection (inferred from exclusions):

Requests for non-tennis items (clothing, transport, general sports equipment)
Applications from non-UK citizens or non-UK residents
Requests submitted before 2-year moratorium period has elapsed for same purpose
Lack of sufficient detail about tennis activities and need

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Simple, accessible process: The Trust emphasizes keeping applications straightforward; don't overcomplicate your request. Focus on clear, detailed information about tennis participation and specific needs.

Merit-based assessment: Each application is “considered on merit” by trustees quarterly. Demonstrate genuine need, clear impact, and alignment with disability tennis development.

Think beyond the maximums: While individual grants cap at £600 and group grants at £1,600, specialist wheelchairs can reach £5,000. Consider what level of support truly matches your need.

Time your application strategically: With four annual deadlines and 7-day notification periods, you can plan around tennis seasons and programme schedules. Apply to the deadline that best aligns with when you need the funding.

Reimbursement funding model: Budget for upfront payment as grants are paid on a reimbursement basis. Ensure you have cash flow to purchase items before claiming back.

Two-year rule works both ways: While you can't reapply for the same purpose within 2 years, you CAN apply for different types of support immediately. Strategic applicants can plan multiple grant requests for different needs across different rounds.

Proven track record: The Trust has supported players from grassroots to elite level, including World Champions. Demonstrating commitment to tennis development—whether recreational or competitive—resonates with trustees who understand long-term player pathways.