Andy Devaney
When Katie Boulter turns up to an event, she usually has a racket in hand. This time, however, Katie Boulter arrived at the All England Lawn Tennis Club armed with something far more potent than a forehand winner: a room-filling dose of goodwill.
Last week, the British No.1 stepped into her role as a Wimbledon Foundation Champion by joining 40 older guests from four local charities for a Christmas lunch that felt every bit as meaningful as Championship Sunday. The Wimbledon Foundation – the official charity of the All England Club and The Championships – brought together Age UK Merton, Age UK Wandsworth, the Merton Goan Senior Citizens Association and Sparkle for a festive afternoon that went far beyond turkey and trimmings.
The Champions’ Room, usually reserved for players plotting how to take down Centre Court giants, swapped its sporting intensity for musical entertainment, a round of festive bingo, and enough warmth to melt the December frost. Boulter moved from table to table with the same ease she covers a baseline, handing out gifts that included jars of Wimbledon honey harvested from the AELTC’s own beehives in Raynes Park.
“As a Wimbledon Foundation Champion, I’m delighted to be back at the All England Club serving the local community and spreading some Christmas joy to the guests in attendance. I am particularly passionate about supporting older people, so it’s been really special to meet four fantastic local charities supported by the Wimbledon Foundation and hear about the amazing work they do,” she said.
For guests like Mavis, the support of these charities is nothing short of essential. After losing both her husband and son in quick succession, she joined Sparkle – an intergenerational project that brings younger and older people together as “grandfriends” through reading, crafts, gardening, and laughter that doesn’t come with an age limit. For her, Sparkle is nothing less than a “lifeline from loneliness.”
On the Age UK Merton table sat Anne, who discovered the charity’s singing group in 2023 after retirement hit harder than expected. Feeling isolated and slipping into low mood, she walked into her first session unsure of what she’d find. What she found was belonging.
“When I joined the singing group, I immediately felt at home. The members made me feel so welcome and suggested I join other outings and activities. Age UK Merton has given me purpose to my days and has been really good for my mental health,” she said.
These are the kinds of stories the Wimbledon Foundation encounters every day. The charity donates more than £4 million annually, with half channelled directly into Merton and Wandsworth to tackle loneliness, food poverty and the sort of silent struggles that rarely make headlines but shape real lives.
Paige Murphy, Head of the Wimbledon Foundation, summed up the mission clearly: “Through our grant programmes, we’re proud to fund these organisations that provide vital support to older people living in Merton and Wandsworth. We hope that the Christmas lunch provides a moment of joy for older members of our community who may be experiencing feelings of loneliness and isolation at this time of year.”
By the time the plates were cleared and the final bingo card folded away, it was evident that this wasn’t just another charity event. It was a reminder of what community looks like when people show up for each other — and on this occasion, Katie Boulter showed up with the sort of heart that doesn’t need a scoreboard.
If only all Christmas gatherings served this much purpose.
