Game, Set and Match: Hertfordshire Coaches Serve Up Dementia-Friendly Tennis

Around 900,000 people across the UK are currently living with dementia, a number projected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040. For many, the condition brings an increased risk of social isolation, with individuals spending more time indoors and experiencing avoidable declines in physical, emotional and social wellbeing.

Research from Natural England, the Woodland Trust and Dementia Adventure highlights the powerful role nature can play in supporting health and wellbeing for people living with dementia. Time outdoors can stimulate the senses, rekindle memories and strengthen connections to community. Yet despite these clear benefits, significant barriers remain. Concerns around safety and risk frequently deter carers and professionals from encouraging outdoor participation.

Further research by Dementia Adventure reveals a striking perception gap: while only 20% of people living with dementia view their condition as a barrier to spending time outdoors, 83% of carers consider that it is, citing physical accessibility, limited support and safety concerns.

Bridging this gap requires greater awareness, practical skills and renewed confidence among organisations and community leaders. On Monday 9^th February, Dementia Adventure took an important step forward by delivering an in-person training session at Radlett Tennis Club for tennis coaches, officials and volunteers from across Hertfordshire, funded by Herts Sports & Physical Activity Partnership, the programme aimed to deepen understanding of dementia, remove barriers to participation and create welcoming environments that enable safe, outdoor physical activity.

Dementia Adventure works to empower people living with dementia to connect with nature, their communities and their own sense of adventure, this vision closely aligns with Live Longer Better in Hertfordshire, a collaborative movement focused on reducing frailty and loneliness through physical activity while promoting independence among older adults. The training was also supported by “No Limits”, a year-long campaign led by Herts Sport & Physical Activity Partnership to improve access to sport and physical activity for those living with a disability.

Fifteen attendees representing nine clubs across the county participated, alongside representatives from Herts Tennis Association. Participants identified clear next steps, including adopting more mindful and patient communication styles, avoiding negative language such as “suffering with dementia”, allowing additional response time, and recognising that dementia extends beyond memory loss. Practical improvements would include enhanced signage, auditing visual and auditory environments, sharing venue information with carers in advance, adapting sessions to accommodate sensory changes, and proactively working towards strength-based assessments of individuals.

Delegates received comprehensive resource packs, including checklists for making both indoor and outdoor spaces more dementia inclusive. The session also explored understanding individual interests and personal histories, sensory changes associated with dementia and inclusive marketing and communications.

Post-course feedback showed a significant rise in confidence, with average self-rated confidence increasing from 5 out of 10 before the session to 9 out of 10 afterwards. Many participants expressed firm intentions to introduce dementia-friendly sessions within their clubs.

To support this momentum, Dementia Adventure pledged funding for up to six sessions across eight clubs, alongside communications support and assistance with participant outreach. Regular online peer-support drop-ins will provide coaches with opportunities to share best practice and seek advice as sessions are established. Live Longer Better in Hertfordshire will also play a key role in promoting the inclusive sessions across the county.

The training was widely praised, with several attendees expressing interest in expanding the initiative to additional venues and neighbouring counties. One participant described the session as:

“thought-provoking, insightful, helpful and informative”, noting that it "provided valuable understanding of how to engage effectively with people living with dementia and enhance their experience on court."

Tania Woods, Project Officer for Live Longer Better in Hertfordshire, emphasised the importance of supporting charities such as Dementia Adventure in sharing specialist expertise with local sports clubs. She said that:

“equipping organisations with the skills and confidence to create inclusive environments is particularly vital given the well-established benefits of outdoor activity for people living with dementia and their carers’.”

For further information about Dementia Adventure’s training programmes or to explore opportunities to introduce dementia-inclusive tennis sessions, please contact t.woods2@herts.ac.uk.