StreetGames UK Doorstep Sports Clubs in Leeds & West Yorkshire are planning to take tennis into their Local Communities over the coming months. 12 Volunteers from 6 Local clubs attended a recent Tennis Activator Training course held at The Beck, a regeneration charity working with neighbourhoods and communities across Leeds, and each are now committed to run 10 weekly sessions over the next 4 months. The Tennis sessions will target young people aged 14 to 25, aiming to attract around 150 young people from deprived communities the chance to try the sport – many of who will never have played before.
Over the last 18 months the LTA Tennis Foundation and Leeds City Council have been working with local partners to increase tennis participation in the city, StreetGames UK are the latest partners to become part of the plan.
Sam Leigh from the organisation ‘Nigeria Community Leeds’ commented, “Most of the activities that we currently run involve football. Having attended the course and seen how tennis can be taken to anyone in any place we are looking forward to giving the children another sport and we know they will enjoy the tennis sessions whether developing tricks, skills or playing the fun games It was a lot of fun for us and we know it will be a lot of fun for them. We are now looking forward to getting the project started.
Amy Latimer from Leeds YMCA had the impression that tennis was difficult and hard to access, but having played it with small racquets over barrier tape and in a disused car park she said ‘it was not like she imagined, the session was amazing, sociable, competitive and great fun and everyone could take part easily.
The LTA Tennis Foundation and StreetGames UK will be following the pilot closely with an eye to repeating the project with other Doorstep Sports Clubs across Yorkshire and Humber and the other regions in England.
For more information or to enquire as to how to get involved please contact Matt Fisher StreetGames UK Network Coordinator in Yorkshire and Humber matt@thinkact.co.uk