Get to know Courtside

We believe that everyone should have equal access to a healthier and happier life.

This is why we are on a mission to transform outdoor public spaces into places where communities can come together to exercise and socialise.

Whether it be a toe-to-toe tennis match, a relaxed round of shuffleboard, or simply a coffee on a dog walk, we make sure there’s something for everyone to enjoy in a place they are pleased to visit.

We don’t stop there though: we include local residents in our activity planning, host events for the community and maintain facilities with the ultimate aim of improving people’s experience of public spaces.

Explore our first hub

Courtside at Bury Knowle is the first completed Courtside hub, located in Headington, Oxford. The site was previously home to a disused pavilion which attracted anti-social behaviour, and tennis courts which were not fulfilling their potential due to their condition. Since the refurbishment of the old pavilion into an attractive community café, and the upgrades to the recreational facilities in the park, we've seen a huge drop in anti-social behaviour and an increase in activity participation with the tennis courts, multi-use games area and mini golf all in near constant use.

Our story

In 2015 our experienced and entrepreneurial management team founded a social enterprise called Parks Tennis CIC, bringing the benefits of tennis to tens of thousands of people. In 2020, Covid exposed health inequalities and reminded us all of the value of parks as places of rest and recreation. In 2021, Courtside was born out of a desire to reduce barriers to physical activity and to partner local authorities in the provision and maintenance of public facilities. Courtside invests in local parks, facilitating increased physical activity and fostering a greater sense of community. We’re proud to have built local partnerships in over 50 parks from Sheffield to Southampton, within which we have 90,000 active customers and have driven 1.5 million hours of community participation.

Our values

We demonstrate kindness in our interactions

We treat everyone equally and respectfully so they feel valued as individuals.

We enrich community life

We invest in places and encourage people in their journey to be healthier and happier.

We believe in enterprise

We combine commercial heads with community hearts, creating new ways to serve local people.

We display resilience in the face of challenges

We remain positive if things go wrong, solving problems and engineering better outcomes.

Our team

Jeff Hunter

Managing director

Responsible for business growth and account management. 15+ years management consultancy, event operations and sports marketing experience. MBA (with Distinction), London Business School & BA Hons Modern Languages, Oxford University. Former u.18 & current 50’s national tennis champion; Surrey county player for 30+ years; OU Triple Blue.

Nick Elliott

Operations director

Responsible for delivery process and coach education. Former national tennis lead for GLL, UK’s largest leisure trust, overseeing all workforce, content and delivery. Level 5 Master Performance Coach, tutor & course designer for LTA qualifications (Level 3-5). Strong man management and team-building skills.

Ed Isard

General manager, Oxfordshire

Responsible for 20 coaches operating in 32 venues. Level 5 Master Performance Coach, Oxford University Women’s Blues Coach & County Training lead. Former tennis manager at White Horse Leisure Centre, Abingdon (team of 15). Former Tennis Oxfordshire Committee member. Excellent programme development and coach management/mentoring skills

James Auckland

Director of programmes

Responsible for programme design .Level 5 Master Performance Coach & ex LTA’s men’s touring coach: first-rate observation/motivation skills. Lead coach tutor for Premier Tennis workforce & David Lloyd Clubs (200+ coaches). Former ATP pro tennis player, British doubles No. 1 & Team GB Davis Cup squad member.