5 minute read
Anyone for tennis?
Ackworth School in West Yorkshire has teamed up with the Tim Henman Foundation and LTA to provide children across the county with exceptional tennis and racket sports training and facilities
For more than three years, Ackworth School has been running a community outreach programme aimed at getting more young people into tennis and other racket sports. e participation project, jointly funded by the Tim Henman Foundation and Ackworth School, in partnership with the LTA, the UK’s national governing body for tennis, has helped local coach Alice Robson bring tennis to nearly 2,000 pupils at 28 local primary schools, as well as to generate 200 new Ackworth Tennis Club members, a club which calls the school home.
Led by Alice, who was named Development Coach of the Year at last year’s LTA Tennis Awards, the programme has delivered teacher training to help teachers run tennis activities in their own schools, broadening the programme’s reach across thousands more children. About the programme, Tim Henman said: “Talent is spread evenly across the country, but sadly opportunity is not, which is why this Foundation initiative in association with the LTA, Ackworth School and Ackworth Tennis Club is so important.”
Alice Robson, Ackworth Tennis Club Head Coach and LTA Development Coach of the Year, said: “It has been a privilege to give so many children around Yorkshire the opportunity to play tennis for the rst time. Seeing them pick up a racket and learn ▲
Children got the opportunity to rally with the former UK number one
new skills is wonderful. Ensuring they have a positive first experience on the court is important when trying to engage them with racket sports, and inspiring Britain’s tennis players.”
Anton Maree, Head of Ackworth School said: “Introducing children to activities which they don’t normally have access to has to take place at their convenience. We work with our partner schools at their schools with the facilities they have at their disposal. This approach allows us to reach a significant number of children and we help them to find their spark!” Richard Garrett, CEO of the Tim Henman Foundation said: “The Tim Henman Foundation Community Tennis programme in Ackworth is a leading model for developing tennis participation. The programme involves schools and a club with outstanding levels of participation creating thousands of ‘one life, one opportunity’ moments for young people to pick up a tennis racquet and potentially find their spark. The scheme’s success reflects a one education sector approach with children and teachers from both state and independent schools being inspired through tennis.”
Paul Bennett, LTA Head of Region for North of England said: “The results of this partnership speak for themselves and it’s great to see so many of the schoolchildren that Alice has inspired to pick up a racket enjoying a session with Tim. We’re continuing to work closely with the foundation as we both work towards encouraging more and more young people from all backgrounds to get involved in our sport. There are plans in place to follow a similar model to this project in other areas of the country, and hopefully, we will see similar levels of success.”
Ackworth School programme has brought tennis to almost 2,000 children at 28 local Yorkshire primary schools
SERVING GREATNESS
Following Emma Raducanu’s historic win at the US Open, Ackworth coach Alice Robson said, “I hope Emma’s success will inspire both girls and boys. It’s so exciting to have a young British tennis player making her mark on the world stage – someone who other young players can relate to, especially girls.
“It was great that watching the final was so accessible for everyone and amazing that it had more views than the men’s final. The players on our programme have been talking about Emma constantly and seem excited to follow her tennis career. I’ve started to see more girls come and try the sport; hopefully Emma’s journey will inspire even more girls to take up the sport and pursue careers within it.”
The high-profile coverage of the US Open has served to energise interest in the sport, and programmes like Ackworth’s outreach project will more than likely see increased participation. Importantly, these community programmes are critical in helping give children opportunities to access participation in the sport and learn new skills in the first place. Tim Henman can be proud that he has helped support Emma to the highest podium in New York in 2021. However, the impact his support for Ackworth tennis outreach programme has – and will have – on thousands of children across Yorkshire can be a source of untold pride for years to come.”
Emma Raducanu’s US Open success will be an inspiration to young players
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