Coming into our 10th year, having sprung up as a lobbying body to tackle inequalities within the governing body, it's hard to believe that we have come full circle in our role within British tennis. Having proposed objective funding to the LTA, and supported the implementation of the Matrix system, GBTG were alerted about inequalities within that system by a wave of parental complaints and were shocked by the level of disparity in financial support awarded between boys and girls.
After consultation and backing from the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF), GBTG began to research the matter.
GBTG drew up a position paper and put their thoughts to the LTA in a meeting held at Roehampton in mid September.
One of our main queries was that even at the first tier of funding, which is for those aged under 10, the LTA immediately fund twice as many boys as girls putting girls on an unequal footing right from the start of their careers. GBTG can not see any reason for this disparity, likewise we do not agree with the unequal matrix funding occurring in the older age groups which the LTA use world standards as their rationale.
Our position paper lays out GBTG's arguments against this rationale and points out that such a system is rewarding boys who are not on track (in world standards) and discourages girls playing the game.
While GBTG does acknowledge that four years ago the balance was redressed somewhat when the new administration appointed a separate department for men's and women's tennis with equal budgets, the massive disparity in matrix funding paid to boys rather than girls still amounts to unequal funding and in our opinion goes against the blueprint for British Tennis.
As a result of our discussions with the LTA they have promised to look in to their current funding system and we are waiting to hear back.
If anyone would like to see a copy of the GBTG position paper on LTA funding, please email info@gbtennisgirls.com and state your involvment in the game or reason for interest in this matter.
