Wimbledon Foundation | WaterAid UK

WaterAid/Ernest Randriarimalala

More about our partnership with Wimbledon Foundation

The partnership

A three-year partnership supporting WaterAid’s work in health centres, schools and communities in Ethiopia, Malawi and Nepal

It takes a team

The Wimbledon Foundation and WaterAid have teamed up to champion clean water, for futures full of potential. We want to make clean water normal for everyone, everywhere. Getting sustainable clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene to a community takes more than simply installing taps and pipes. It takes teams of people, too: government officials, water committees, mechanics, plumbers, community members, teachers and more.

The village of Birtadeurali in Nepal is no different. When their water supply was destroyed by the earthquake in 2015, the whole community came together, with help from WaterAid and local partners, to build a new one.

WaterAid at the 2019 Championships

WaterAid/Laura Summerton This year WaterAid has brought an exhibition and 'GIF Booth' to the Wimbledon Queue. Those queueing can learn more about our work and take a photo with their 'team', to support #TeamWater.

WaterAid/Laura Summerton

WaterAid/Laura Summerton The photo booth will also print a hard copy of the photo, which can be kept or stuck on our #TeamWater photoboard.

WaterAid/Laura Summerton

WaterAid/Geraldine Clermont WaterAid’s fountain of 2631 tennis balls is also in the park at the start of the queue. The balls represent the average number of lives that could be saved each day if everyone had clean water.

The Wimbledon Foundation

Established in 2013, the Wimbledon Foundation is the official charity of The All England Lawn Tennis Club and The Championships. The Foundation aims to use the resources and heritage of Wimbledon to help improve people’s lives, both in the local area and on an increasingly global scale.

The Wimbledon Foundation will donate £100,000 annually for three years to help WaterAid make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene normal for communities in three countries, Ethiopia, Malawi and Nepal, supporting WaterAid’s work in health centres, schools and communities.

Water is vital to Wimbledon: it keeps our grass courts maintained and our competitors hydrated. However, we are well aware that not everyone is as fortunate. The basics of clean water and good sanitation are vital for health and education, enabling children to fulfil their potential, and yet around 800 children die each day from diseases caused by a lack of clean water and good sanitation. That is why the Wimbledon Foundation is proud to be championing water for all through our new partnership with WaterAid. We share their vision of a world where everyone everywhere has access to clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene, and as the charity of an international sporting event, we are excited to be helping them to make a difference.

Helen Parker, Wimbledon Foundation and Community Manager