The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and Tennis Foundation today announced that Don Perrin Tennis in Winchester, one of the area’s leading tennis sites, has been awarded ‘Beacon’ status as part of the AEGON Parks Tennis programme in recognition of its high quality, affordable community tennis programmes.
The announcement was made as the site was presented with its prestigious Beacon plaque by Simon Johnson, Tennis Operations Manager for Hampshire and Isle Of Wight (IOW).
The club joins 165 sites across the country to achieve the national accolade which recognises the best community-focussed facilities offering free and affordable tennis as part of the AEGON Parks Tennis programme.
To achieve this status, facilities must also offer access to quality, affordable coaching as well as regular competitions for all ages and abilities.
Simon Johnson, Tennis Operations Manager for Hampshire and IOW, said: "The team at Don Perrin Tennis have done a fantastic job in the last year to take tennis to the masses. In obtaining Tennis Clubmark and Beacon accreditation they're now a shining example of how to offer free and affordable tennis to hundreds of local people.
"Through AEGON Parks Tennis, we are committed to improving access to tennis around the country – whether playing for fun or competing. Tennis is a fantastic lifelong sport and everyone should have the opportunity to take part. Working with local tennis providers like Don Perrin Tennis will really help to build healthier and safer communities, as well as ensuring that anyone wanting to pick up a racket can do so in a quality local environment."
Donna Holliday, Club Manager at Don Perrin Tennis said: "I think becoming a Beacon site will do great things for the facility. We are going to run free taster sessions which we haven’t been able to do until becoming a Beacon. We want to encourage both adults and juniors to play more and at least try the sport.
"With the taster sessions, we hope that people will realise that they don’t have to make any commitment and will hopefully enjoy it and come more regularly. We are also planning to introduce touch tennis as well as open mornings to introduce people to the game and increase attendance."
AEGON Parks Tennis aims to increase community access to tennis in parks and communities nationwide. Delivered by the LTA and Tennis Foundation, AEGON Parks Tennis is a key programme in British tennis’ drive to increase participation and grow tennis at all levels. The long-term aim is to have an AEGON Parks Tennis site acting as a centre of community tennis excellence in each of the local authority areas in Britain.
To find your nearest place to play tennis visit www.lta.org.uk/playtennis.