For the second year running Downend & Frenchay Tennis Club, with support for funding this year from Avon Tennis, have teamed up to create a 10 week tennis session programme at the Club.
Helen Abbott (Tennis Foundation) had been running tennis groups at Headways for the last 3 years in their centre at the Frenchay Beckspool Building……. pushing back the furniture in the day room, putting the chairs in 2 rows, using the Tennis Foundation equipment to play adaptive tennis. Each session was great fun, very competitive and an excellent way to improve coordination, balance and to lift the spirits.
However, the participants really wanted to have a go playing on a full sized court. As part of the Tennis Foundation ‘Open your Doors‘ make your tennis venue inclusive initiative, Sally Wraith from Downend & Frenchay Tennis Club was able to secure Section 106 funding from the Bristol Parkway development, to make this plan possible with equipment and funding for training and coaching during 2017.
To continue the initiative in 2018 Avon Tennis has supported the sessions by providing funding to enable club coaches Pete Casely and Josh Wraith, both LTA Accredited+, to consistently provided the personalised coaching required.
It was essential for Headways as it was so successful in year one that everyone involved wanted more sessions, albeit on a different day so that different participants could benefit. The feedback is that they love playing and have found their mobility and mood improved following the session.
Jill Osleger, the National Disability Development Manager at the Tennis Foundation, who attended the opening session at Downend & Frenchay Tennis Club tweeted:
06/06/2018, 12:14
Just seen a fantastic tennis session with Bristol Headway group @TennisFndation@HeadwayUK @DandFLTC#TennisAnyBody Lots of smiles and laughter ���� pic.twitter.com/fOFZX2VsiZ
A report of the day provided by Helen Abbott of the Tennis Foundation can be seen by going to: Report to Avon Tennis on the Headways project Aug 2018 (1)
There are other inclusive sessions going on in Tennis Clubs in the Bristol area as part of the ‘Open Your Doors‘ initiative, which is all very exciting.
If you would like to know more please contact : sadie.moran@tennisfoundation.org or helenabbott19@gmail.com
Or take a look at either website – Headways Bristol http://headwaybristol.org.uk or Tennis Foundation https://www.tennisfoundation.org.uk