North East Visually Impaired Tennis Club (NEVITC) has been awarded the prestigious Club of The Year award at this year's North East Disability Sports Awards.
The awards, which celebrate the achievements of the region's disabled athletes were held at Sunderland FC's Stadium of Light and also saw NEVITC members Rosine Pybus and Nadeem Mughal nominated for the Participant of the Year award, and the Northumberland Club, one of the group's regular venues also nominated for the Club of the Year award.
The club was founded in 2010 by coach Wendy Glasper and gives those with a visual impairment the opportunity to play tennis. The last few years have seen participation in the region growing significantly and the club is now regularly fielding players at tournaments across the country and are preparing to host their second Open Championships event in May 2015. The event is expected to attract close to 50 players.
Wendy Glasper, NEVITC Founder, described winning the award as 'an honour', saying: "I am proud to receive the club of the year award for the NEVITC, especially up against so many developing clubs.
“It's good to be part of a growing club that is giving the blind and partially sighted community the opportunity to play tennis in the North East. To watch individuals grow in confidence and self-esteem in what they are achieving gives you a real buzz.”
NEVITC Chairman Graeme Manwell said: “I am absolutely thrilled with the award and the credit must go to a committed number of volunteers and players who have worked tirelessly over the past few years to enable the Club to be considered for such a prestigious title.”
Steve Trewick, NEVITC Treasurer added : "The support we've had from people and organisations in the region and beyond is amazing. Tyne and Wear Sport, The Tony Blair Sports Foundation, Visual Impairment North East, the Dan Maskell Trust, the Northumberland Club and Adderstone foundation, the Tennis Foundation and Durham & Cleveland and Northumberland LTA have all helped us get to this point.”
North East Visually Impaired Tennis club is part of the Tennis Foundation’s Disability Tennis Network in Newcastle. The Tennis Foundation has 42 Disability Tennis Networks across Great Britain which are made up of tennis clubs, parks and community indoor tennis centres. The Tennis Foundation provides funding, equipment, advice and training for these networks to help their participating venues deliver monthly and weekly impairment specific tennis programmes to increase participation in tennis by disabled people.
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