The All England Lawn Tennis Club and Merton Council have today announced a two-year funding commitment that supports the Merton School Sports Partnership (MSSP). The partnership will enable MSSP to provide school children across the borough of Merton with access to high-quality physical education and school sport, ensuring the positive impact of regular physical activity on health and wellbeing.
As part of this collaboration, the All England Club has announced a total of £120,000 of funding for the MSSP during this academic year and next. The funding forms part of the All England Club’s ongoing partnership with MSSP and is in addition to support from Merton Council, aligning with the Council’s ambition to become London’s first ever Borough of Sport.
This new funding announcement was celebrated at an ‘Activate Festival’ school sport event held earlier today at the All England Club’s Community Tennis Centre in Raynes Park. Fifty pupils from local schools, including Malmesbury, Wimbledon Park and The Priory CofE, took part in the session with additional support from Raynes Park High students.
Councillor Ross Garrod, Leader of Merton Council, and representatives of the All England Club and MSSP attended the event that showcased the positive role that schools, local government and community partners can jointly play in supporting children and young people to live active, healthy lives.
Councillor Ross Garrod said:
“Today shows exactly why Merton is London’s Borough of Sport. Here, world‑class sporting institutions work alongside the people and organisations delivering activity on the ground, towards a common goal of making sport part of everyday life and increasing physical activity.
“With AELTC backing and continued support from the council, MSSP’s incredible work in our schools gets a powerful boost, which will supercharge our mission to make Merton’s children the most active in London.”
The role of MSSP’s Sports Leaders programme was a feature of the day as the festival showcased primary school students participating in a range of target and movement-based team activities which encouraged teamwork and problem-solving. Selected Year 5 and 6 Sports Leaders helped to support the sessions, performing the roles they regularly take on within their own schools – running stations and mentoring younger pupils.
MSSP delivers an introductory Sports Leaders session in 39 primary schools at Year 5, as well as in three special schools at Key Stages 3 and 4 and is seen as a key programme to introduce these students to leadership and build their confidence.
Abinitha, Year 6 Student Sports Leader from Sherwood Primary, Mitcham said:
“Today has been really exciting because I took on the role of Student Sport Leader with lots of children from different schools.
All the children involved tried new sports, worked with Leaders, and cooperated with people from other year groups. It’s been a great opportunity for everyone to get involved in a variety of games and have a really positive experience.”
In 2025, MSSP worked with 44 primary and special schools across Merton, providing an array of events and festivals to engage children in physical activity and school sport. This included inclusive provision to ensure children of all abilities and needs were able to participate. Alongside activity for pupils, MSSP also supports schools through teacher training and professional development, helping to strengthen the quality of physical education delivered across the board.
Nicola Ryan, Partnership Director at MSSP, said:
“At a time of continued budget pressures for schools, this funding provides MSSP with vital stability, enabling us to plan ahead and continue supporting pupils across the borough. The All England Club has long been a committed champion of Merton schools – offering opportunities to enhance physical literacy and activity through the Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative, grants for local charities, and free access to high‑quality facilities and training.
“Their renewed investment arrives at a crucial moment, safeguarding our Merton Sports Leaders programme for more than 2,000 Year 5 pupils. These young leaders not only develop lifelong skills and confidence for themselves, but also play a key role in boosting physical activity across schools by supporting and delivering multi‑skill activities and games for thousands of younger children.
“The funding has enabled MSSP to recruit dedicated staff, strengthen resources, and deliver more festivals and events where leaders can put these skills into practice. We are deeply grateful for the All England Club’s continued commitment to our community and the wellbeing of our young people.”
Ulrika Högberg, Head of Community Strategy at the All England Club, said:
“We are delighted to support the Merton School Sports Partnership in its ongoing work to deliver outstanding physical education programmes across the borough. This partnership plays a key role in ensuring students are able to take part and fully realise the wellbeing benefits of physical activity.
Our two-year investment reflects not only the All England Club’s commitment to invest in the borough of Merton and support the Council’s ambition to become London’s Borough of Sport, but also our belief in the MSSP and the impactful work that they do to help young people get active.”
