The East Kent Community Tennis Programme

Why?

How?

The initial hubs are:

Net Gain and Infinity Thanet Hub

Introduction

Net Gain CIC is committed to fostering the growth of tennis among children, particularly in underserved communities. Our mission is to introduce the lifelong joy and benefits of tennis to children, regardless of their background. With this proposal, we will use the donation of £10,000 to deliver an innovative in-school tennis programme tailored for schools in Thanet with high levels of free school meals/pupil premium.

Objective

The primary objective of this programme is to make tennis accessible and enjoyable for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, using it as a vehicle for positive change in their lives. We aim to achieve this by integrating tennis into the curriculum, providing quality coaching, necessary equipment, and creating pathways for sustained engagement with the sport.

Programme Overview

The proposed funding will enable a comprehensive six-week (1 term) tennis course at six selected schools across Thanet. This programme is designed not just as a short-term introduction to tennis, but as a foundation for lifelong engagement with the sport. Key components of the proposal include:

Impact and Outcomes

The expected outcomes of this programme include:

Conclusion

The Net Gain CIC School Programme represents a unique opportunity to transform the lives of children in Thanet through the sport of tennis. With your support, we can provide these children with not just the skills to play, but also a gateway to a healthier, more active lifestyle and a sense of belonging within their community. We invite you to join us in making this vision a reality, creating lasting impact on the lives of these young individuals and their communities.

Deal and Dover Hub

Introduction

The Deal and Dover Park Tennis CIC currently operates the refurbished courts at Marke Wood Recreation Ground in Deal. Their vision is to open-up tennis within the local community, providing welcoming, accessible and affordable tennis for everyone, thus allowing everyone to reap the fitness and social benefits that tennis offers.

The CIC is delighted, together with Accredited Tennis Coach, Karen Hodgson (one of its coaching providers), to have received £3000 to deliver a tennis outreach project in Deal and Dover to 4 primary schools, each with a high pupil premium level. Using Karen’s extensive experience of delivering an inclusive tennis programme within a local primary school with a high level of pupil premium, the schools’ outreach project has been devised to help the enrolled schools to be self-sufficient in their tennis provision.

Objective

The primary objective of this programme is to help each school to build and maintain its own sustainable, inclusive tennis programme so all its pupils during their school journeys will have the opportunity to thrive in tennis by growing in self-confidence, becoming more resilient, developing life skills such as teamwork, problem-solving and leadership, in addition to improving their physical and mental well-being.

Programme Overview

The schools’ tennis outreach programme is providing financial support and tennis guidance during 2024/2025 for an enthusiastic Teaching Assistant (or member of Support Staff) at four different primary schools to become their ‘Tennis Champion’. The Tennis Champions will organise and run all their tennis activities within their schools with the full support and engagement of their school’s leadership team. The tennis activities are to include:

  • Weekly after-school tennis club for 20 sessions during the year.
  • Attendance of end-of-project Tennis Festival.
  • Trip(s) to either compete or spectate at a tennis tournament.

The Tennis Champions have all undertaken the LTA Tennis Training course for Primary School Staff and will receive three continuous professional development sessions, in addition to regular support and guidance, from Accredited Tennis Coach, Karen Hodgson.

Impact and Outcomes

The expected outcomes of this programme include:

Conclusion

The Deal and Dover Park Tennis CIC Schools’ Tennis Outreach Programme template represents a great opportunity for primary schools to become self-sufficient in delivering inclusive tennis within their schools and thus help their pupils thrive, year after year, through the sport of tennis.

With your support, we can help more primary schools become self-sufficient in delivering tennis so allowing more children not only to learn the skills to play, but also access a gateway to a healthier, more active lifestyle. We invite you to join us in making this vision a reality, creating lasting impact on the lives of these young individuals.

What?

All programmes will work with the principles outlined by LTA Youth Sport and with the support of the LTA and Tennis Kent.

The aim is to bring tennis opportunity to schools and children in areas of high pupil premium and free school meal percentages

The EKCTP will:

Key Contacts

Programme Director: Gavid Vickers

gavidvickers@infinity-tennis.co.uk

Coaches: Karen Hodgson

hodgson_k3@sky.com