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It is now over 10 years since the IC Council agreed to set up its own charity. Throughout this period we have seen the number of programmes around the world grow and the number of children and young people participating increase. Since inception, these programmes have touched the lives of some 17,000 young individuals and in many cases will have kept children off the streets and away from drugs and crime.

All the programmes differ in some way. We do not seek to impose fixed guidelines other than to require assurances that there are suitable Child Safeguarding standards in place and that members of the national ICs take responsibility for the outcomes of every programme which we support.

In the last 18 months, with the impact of Covid-19 around the world, we have witnessed a period of serious disruption for most of the programmes. As a result, grants were made, generally on a conditional basis, so that if the pandemic interrupted a programme a suitable proportion of the grant aid distributed for 2020 and 2021 would be clawed back against the cost of future years. In this way ICP has successfully saved some £19,400, whilst at the same time using some of the grants made to continue to involve the young people in various activities such as exercises, games and guidance for keeping fit online, in lieu of tennis.

I and my fellow Trustees are very grateful to those organising the programmes for the additional work that they have put in to ensure that the benefits of their efforts have not been lost or unduly curtailed.

I would also like to thank our donors who have continued to support our work in a period when fewer funds are available for philanthropic activities. For all involved in the tennis world, whether charitable, educational or commercial, we wish everyone a less challenging environment in the coming months.

"I am delighted to be a Patron of IC Philanthropy and I continue to be impressed by the progress and reach which the Foundation has achieved since its activities began in 2009 and now as a fully fledged Charity. Unsurprisingly the pandemic has interfered with the ability of the managers of each programme to provide uninterrupted classes, but I have also been impressed at the ingenuity of the International Clubs running these programmes in providing alternative on-line exercises aimed at engaging the pupils and retaining their involvement. I am looking forward to helping ICP further to grow and continue its work to make a difference to the lives of many young disadvantaged people."

"There is so much that can be done for impoverished children through playing sport. From my lifelong background in tennis, I am sure that teaching children tennis with the advantages of learning through the game about the joys and disappointments of winning and losing, of sticking to rules and acquiring selfdiscipline, provide guidance for life that can help everyone. I have been impressed at the way in which those running programmes supported by ICP have managed to maintain contact with the children involved, when so many have had to cease contact with individual participants in many other events. I do hope that these programmes continue to flourish when life, post Covid-19, returns nearer to normality."