Charity number:
1205190
Meet the Team
Our founder
Chris Marshall
Chris setup G Tennis with Catherine in 2015 in Larkhall Park, Stockwell, South London. Ever since they have been trying to find ways for local kids to access Tennis and have had some great success along the way. The girl picture with Chris was discovered through a local charity and now plays in the Surrey squad. All her coaching has been funded/delivered by Chris for free. Chris is hugely passionate about changing the general perception of Tennis in the UK and this is why he is starting the Project 10k campaign.
Co founder
Catherine Dibble
Catherine shares the same passion as Chris and helps deliver coaching for lots of kids on a weekly basis. She also very kindly donated her time in the summer of 2023 taking the the kids from Cheer on a summer holiday to the Yorkshire Dales. She however didn't do the camping bit! Catherine also has a huge love of her dog Boodge who is the G Tennis and now Young Champs mascot!
Our Patron
David Lloyd
David and his younger brother John Lloyd became two of the most successful British tennis players throughout the 1970s and 1980s. David captained the British Davis Cup team and was active in the Lawn Tennis Association. David then went on to setup the successful David Lloyds Tennis and fitness centres and was also credited with helping to develop Tim Henman as a younger player.
Ambassador
Fran Jones
Fran is current professional Tennis player with a righest ranking of WTA 149. Her 1st coach back in Bradford was Chris (charity founder) and shares our passion for inclusivity and creating opportunities for children from all backgrounds to access Tennis.
Ambassador
Qasa Alom
Qasa Alom is a British journalist, radio and television presenter, and documentary film-maker. After meeting 4 of the G Tennis kids at Wimbledon Qasa said he would love to be involved in the Young Champs Project. He shares our passion in creating opportunities for children from ethnic minority backgrounds. As a Tennis fan it seems the perfect match!
Ambassador
Naqi Rizvi
Naqi Rizvi is ranked number one in the world for Blind Tennis. He has been playing tennis for the past eight years, and is very keen to promote the sport to people of all backgrounds and abilities.
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Naqi did his undergraduate and masters degree in engineering, and works in financial services at present. He is very passionate about disability advocacy and increasing opportunities for people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. He enjoys taking part in various sporting activities, staying up-to-date with current affairs, and hanging out with friends. He firmly believes that disability is not the same as inability.
Trustee
Anna Pinney
Anna loves tennis! She is Trustee Chair of Young Champs and is excited about the work that Young Champs can do to get children from all backgrounds into tennis, change perception about tennis, and most of all get children to see how fun tennis can be. She feels really passionately about giving children the opportunity to get involved with tennis and enjoy the many benefits that sport can bring.
Anna is a lawyer by background and has worked in-house for an art gallery and a theatre trade organisation. At the moment, she is at home, looking after her four young children (who also all love tennis).
Trustee
Kat McGettigan
Kat McGettigan is a communications expert with nearly two decades running award winning campaigns globally. Her consultancy, Fine Lines (named after the classic commentary phrase) helps comms business to grow faster and further. Kat has been an avid tennis player since a young age and has followed the sport across the world as a true fan! Having previously lived in Stockwell, Larkhall was Kat's regular courts and is delighted to be able to support giving more kids more access to the game.
Trustee
Leroy Margolis
Leroy is a banking and finance professional and Director of Margolis Holdings, a diversified investment holding company with interests in property, hospitality, mining and gaming.
Before joining Margolis Holdings, Leroy led the finance function of a U.K.-based technology start-up helping to take it from a pre-seed raise of US$2.5m in 2018 to a peak valuation of US$232M.
Leroy is an avid sportsperson and a believer in the power of sport to change lives for the better. He is incredibly privileged to have the opportunity to work with Young Champs to provide children from disadvantaged backgrounds with the opportunity to engage in tennis.
Trustee
Lily Valentin
With 10+ years' global partnership and business development experience, Lily Valentin is a "go to market" expert. Growing up in downtown Chicago, Lily did not have access to tennis. Later in life, she adopted the sport as a means to connect with others.
As a Trustee for Young Champs, Lily understands the importance of accessibility and inclusivity in the sport. She firmly believes, through the power of tennis, Young Champs is equipping disenfranchised youths with key skills for a lifetime of success.
Get involved!
We are looking for help so please get in touch if you would like to help with the project.