The winners of the 2013 British Tennis Education Awards have been announced this week to recognise their work in helping more young people play tennis.
There were three awards for a school, college and university with institutions in Yorkshire claiming two of the gongs.
School and University of the Year were presented by the new President of the Lawn Tennis Association, Cathie Sabin, while Peter Symonds College collected their award earlier in the month at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.
School of the Year was awarded to Danum Academy, a large school in Yorkshire which serves some of the most deprived areas in the country. They have worked with the Tennis Foundation since setting up a tennis programme three years ago with the aim of using tennis to help their pupils thrive on and off court. After refurbishing their existing tennis courts, they appointed two tennis ambassadors to set up competitions in the school leading to success for the first time in the Aegon Team Tennis Schools events.
The school has also opened up the courts to the local community to use free of charge.
"There is a huge buzz in the school and all of the students are engaged in tennis or mini tennis as part of our core PE curriculum."
University of the Year went to Leeds Metropolitan University who had a successful year growing participation with over 1,800 people playing from September 2012 to May 2013 and over 1,000 taking part in Cardio Tennis.
Free tennis coaching was also available to eight local schools and over 400 children took the opportunity to pick up some top tips over the summer.
The University were an integral part of the Tennis Foundation's Community Tennis Pilot Programme in Leeds working with coaching scholars and linking up with the University of Leeds to develop tennis there.
Louise Assioun from Leeds Metropolitan University was presented with their award
Peter Symonds College in Hampshire were presented with the College of the Year award last month after their great work with Hampshire LTA to develop a link with a local club to grow the number of 16 – 19 year olds playing recreationally. Tennis is now part of the college enrichment programme with 'Back to Tennis' courses and Short Tennis sessions resulting in many more students playing regularly.
The Tennis Foundation's Head of Education, Tom Gibbins, said: "It's been great to recognise the fantastic achievements of Danum, Leeds Met and Peter Symonds, who are all helping more people play tennis more often, not just within their own organisations, but within their wider communities, too."
You can find out more about British tennis' support for schools, colleges and universities here.
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