From Grassroots to National Leader : West Worthing Club Sets a New Standard for Sustainability in Sport
As a volunteer-led Sussex tennis, padel and multi-sports club, West Worthing Club is proving that grassroots sport can lead the way in climate action – after being named the national winner of a prestigious new environmental award.
West Worthing Club has been named the national recipient of the Lawn Tennis Association’s inaugural Protect Where We Play Award 2026. The award recognises the most environmentally forward-thinking tennis and padel venues in Britain that demonstrate outstanding commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability.
The accolade was presented at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton, where club representatives Carole Naunton, Colin Sweeney and Club Manager, Jemima Lee received the award from adventurer and environmental advocate Bear Grylls.
The award celebrates excellence across four key areas: climate action, waste reduction, supporting nature, and community engagement. For the club, it marks the culmination of a sustained, community-driven effort to embed sustainability into the everyday life.
As a not-for-profit organisation run largely by volunteers, the club has taken a practical and forward-thinking approach to environmental responsibility.
Initiatives include energy-efficient lighting, solar energy, waste reduction and recycling schemes, improved water management, and projects to enhance local biodiversity. Just as importantly, the club has worked to engage its members and the wider community, encouraging more sustainable habits both on and off the court.
The result is not just a greener facility, but a more engaged and future-focused community.
This national recognition follows the club’s earlier success at county level, where it was named, Sussex Protect Where We Play Award winner before going on to be shortlisted nationally.
Carole Naunton, Club Director, said the award reflects the collective effort of the club’s members and volunteers:
“Everything we’ve achieved has been driven by people who care deeply about both the club and the environment. We’re proud to show that a local, volunteer-run sports club can be ambitious, innovative, and make a real difference.”
The achievement positions West Worthing Club as a leading example of how community sports organisations can combine environmental responsibility with a dynamic and inclusive approach to the future of sport.
By embedding sustainability into its long-term vision, the club hopes to inspire others—locally and nationally—to recognise the role that grassroots sport can play in protecting the environment while strengthening communities.
The LTA championed the club’s efforts on World Earth Day 2026, with a widely-publicised article celebrating our ethos and achievements. Read the LTA’s article ‘Our Power, Our Planet: How West Worthing Club is Protecting Where We Play’ here.
The LTA Awards are sponsored by Lexus who have awarded West Worthing Club, and other national winners, a grant of up to £1,000 to help drive tennis participation.
Further details about the club’s sustainability journey, can be found here: https://www.wwc.org.uk/west-worthing-club-sussex-sustainability-award-winner/
