Tennis For Free operates fully inclusive alternative tennis sessions for all ages and all members of the community nationwide at public parks for free.
Based on a mass participation weekly session, we run mixed ability group games and drills managed by qualified coaches and supported by volunteers.
The result is that we are making tennis and sport available to all – from those who simply want to try the game to the less privileged who may otherwise not engage in tennis or any sport.
There are no catches: everything is free, including equipment and coaching. We feel that providing free sport is essential in these times of hardship for many families.
We work in partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association and councils to help open up local courts and maximise the use of facilities, particularly targeting those in areas of high deprivation, and encouraging all to come along.
The benefit to mental and physical wellbeing cannot be underestimated.
Adrian Gaylon, Sports Development Officer at Rother District Council, told us that working in partnership with Tennis for Free was the right option for his local authority “not just because it helped the project to happen by bringing in expertise, funding and resources, but equally important the charity had the same philosophy of wanting to build local tennis communities and break down barriers which might stop people playing”.
He added: “This includes developing family sessions, activities based on fun and inclusion, and breaking down barriers to why people might not come, such as session costs or the cost of buying equipment.”
We are not just tennis; we are a community initiative addressing many of the social problems currently faced by society.
Our sessions change lives, they build social networks, reduce isolation, support families, teach new skills, and build life skills such as teamwork and communication.