Both Leeds University and Leeds Met University, as well as Leeds City Council, have been integral partners to the Leeds pilot. The growth of a local tennis workforce of coaches and volunteers was key to our approach, promoting the sport effectively at targeted locations and using excellent links with both Council and Universities to reach communities that would not normally play tennis.
Some of the achievements include; designing a new website housed within the council’s website, promoting all 12 of the free parks in Leeds, introducing programmes at Leeds leisure centres, delivering free monthly coaching sessions in parks, having a presence at more than 20 city promotion and family days, delivering Leeds disability sport activity, and supporting the ‘Positive Futures programme’. As a result, Leeds City Council nominated us in their ‘Awards for Excellence’ Partner of the Year category highlighting the British tennis approach, something that has also been recognised by Sport England.
We’ve also forged close ties with the local BME population through our work with the Hamara Healthy Living Centre, providing training and equipment to their staff and volunteers. Continuing this strand of work is a key priority moving forwards.
If you'd like more information or would like to be involved in the Leeds pilot, please contact our pilot lead Gavin Sutcliffe.