Deaf children were given the opportunity to enjoy playing tennis at the weekend in Leeds at the National Junior Deaf Tennis Day which aimed to pave the way for deaf children to get into the sport.
Families braved the snowy weather to attend the free event at John Charles Centre for Sport which was held by the National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) and supported by the Tennis Foundation, the country's leading tennis charity.
The children were lead on court by tennis coach at the centre Dwight Brown, sign language interpreters and some very enthusiastic volunteers from the NDCS and had fun learning the basics on court.
Representatives from the Tennis Foundation were on hand to give parents information about future deaf events, both competitive and introductory as part of a wider strategy to get more disabled people engaged with tennis.
Daniel Absolon, Disability Development Manager for the Tennis Foundation, said: "It was a really special event and credit to all the families who made it through the snow to attend the day.
"The Tennis Foundation is committed to showing that tennis is a sport for everyone and continuing the legacy of the Paralympics to make the sport even more inclusive to disabled people.
"Being deaf should not exclude you from anything, and certainly not tennis and on the day I was delighted to see the children had fun and it is brilliant that people gave up their time to offer such excellent and passionate resources in helping children learn the game."
A new British Sign Language (BSL) for tennis web page has also been created to support clubs and coaches communicate with deaf participants, including BSL users.
The Tennis Foundation is also supporting tennis venues to provide an accessible and inclusive environment and is running a series of Disability Awareness Courses to coaches across the country.
To find out about becoming deaf-friendly or to access activities in your area contact NDCS at me2@ndcs.org.uk or call their helpline on 0808 800 8880 or visit their website (link opens in new window).
View a selection of videos demonstrating tennis terms in British Sign Language here (link opens in new window).
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