New disability tennis initiative for Winchester
Disability tennis sessions are on their way for the summer at Osborne School, Shepherds Down School and River Park Leisure Centre.
Winchester City Council, in partnership with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Lawn Tennis Association, the Tennis Foundation, Osman Tennis and Places for People, are organising the sessions to increase participation in disability tennis in the Winchester District.
The community sessions, at River Park Leisure Centre on Thursdays at 5pm, are for adults and children and are free of charge. They are proving to be very popular - 24 participants have already registered to take part and with 72 pupils from local schools set to join in, things are sure to be busy on the courts in the lead up to Wimbledon.
This initiative will culminate in a Tennis Festival for all the participants on Tuesday 22 August from 1pm to 3pm. There will be trophies, certificates and free tennis rackets as prizes at this event.
Partnership funding has enabled the Council to provide specialised equipment for a range of disabilities, court hire, specialist tennis coaches as well as the prizes for the festival event.
Richard Cutler, Chair of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Lawn Tennis Association commented.
We are so pleased that the grant we awarded to Winchester City Council has been used to engage with so many disabled people in Hampshire. It is great to see so many new participants enjoying tennis.
For more information on the school sessions and how to register for the community sessions at River Park Leisure Centre contact Amanda Ford aford@winchester.gov.uk. 01962 848 274 or visit www.playtenniswinchester.com