Tennis charity serves up free lessons
National sports charity ‘Tennis For Free’ has served up an ace for Exeter and the surrounding area by investing in a 50 week programme of free tennis lessons hoping hundreds of people across the area can make a racket at the city’s Heavitree Pleasure Ground courts.
The timing of the launch couldn’t be better as the World’s top players will be playing at the most famous tennis tournament of them all - Wimbledon. The charity, created by comedian Tony Hawks, has created a partnership with Exeter City Council, local professional tennis coach Jon Hamilton and the LTA to help provide free coach led tennis sessions for all the family starting on Saturday 4th July between 2-4pm.
You don’t even need a racket as all equipment is provided free of charge.
Comedian Tony Hawks will be in attendance on the launch day. An award-winning comedian and Sunday Times best-selling author Tony co-founded Tennis For Free because he was keen to see more public park courts used and saw this as the only route to opening out the game to people from all backgrounds. Tony is a regular TV and radio guest and has the honour of having played the entire Moldovan national football team at tennis!
Local professional tennis coach Jon Hamilton will be managing the scheme said: 'I am really excited to be running Tennis for Free coach-led tennis sessions at Heavitree Pleasure Ground every week. It is a great way to introduce everyone to the sport, regardless of age or ability.
"The sessions are completely free and all the equipment is provided so, you don't even need your own racket to take part! Tennis is not only conducive to a healthy and active lifestyle but is also a fantastic social sport and the sessions will provide a great way for people to meet other players of similar abilities. These sessions will run throughout the year and we encourage as many people as possible to get involved. With Wimbledon in full flow it’s a great time for people to start the sport but then continue throughout the year."
Started in 2004 and celebrating a decade of getting over 150,000 people to hit tennis balls for free, Tennis For Free is a registered charity founded by comedian Tony Hawks.
It aims to provide healthy, vibrant tennis communities on FREE public park tennis courts creating new tennis players of all ages and backgrounds, and showing that tennis can be enjoyed by all. Tennis For Free supporters include Judy Murray (mother of GB No1 Andy, Federation Cup Captain and Strictly star), BBC tennis commentator Andrew Castle and ex Grand Slam winner Pat Cash.
Tennis For Free CEO, Paul Jessop said: “Having started as a website listing free parks tennis we now have an extensive free tennis programme across the UK. With support from our sponsors the LTA we are partnering with local organisations local tennis coaches and investing over the next three years into 50 Tennis For Free park sites across the UK, helping approximately 40,000 new people to experience the TFF fun sessions.
Cllr Keith Owen, Lead Councillor for Health and Wellbeing, Exeter City Council said: ““This is a fantastic initiative that hopefully will see more and more people in Exeter picking up a racket and playing tennis. Heavitree Pleasure Ground is a wonderful location and the council has recently resurfaced the courts ahead of this initiative. In Exeter we are striving to become the most physically active place in the south west and this project will go some way to helping to achieve this.”
Rob Dearing, Head of Participation at the LTA said: “Tennis is a game for everyone and we are delighted to be working closely with Tennis For Free to support them to extend their free tennis programme to more parks in Great Britain. It’s fantastic to see another new park taking on the Tennis For Free initiative and look forward to seeing hundreds of local people in Exeter playing tennis in the weeks and months ahead.”
You can register for Tennis For Free at Heavitree Pleasure Ground online at www.heavitreetennis.co.uk or for further information visit www.tennisforfree.com. You can also follow Tennis For Free on twitter @tennisforfree or contact local tennis coach and scheme leader Jon Hamilton on 07732 363378 or email: jonhami@hotmail.com
