The East Kent Community Tennis Programme
Why?
- To increase opportunities for deserving young people by giving them the chance to learn tennis and develop their well-being. Schools involved should have higher than the national average for Pupil Premium and Free School Meals
- To improve participation
- To build a performance pathway
- To establish a coaching pathway that resolves the coach resourcing issues within East Kent (See Appendices 1 and 2 Draft Policy)
- To create an awareness of the excellent facilities and support that exist through the LTA and the locality
How?
- • Helping build Club, School and Park, Community Tennis Hubs with links with key funders.
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:
- Increased participation in tennis among children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Improved physical health and well-being of participants.
- Development of life skills, including teamwork, leadership, and perseverance, through sport.
- Creation of sustainable pathways for continued engagement with tennis.
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
- 20 sessions of after-school tennis club
- 3 hours of group CPD training for each TA
- Attendance of end-of-project Tennis Festival
- Administration time to support other school tennis activities such as school trip to Wimbledon or Eastbourne and entering schools' tennis tournaments
- Level 2 accredited tennis coach support for each school's first 3 club sessions with the TA shadowing the coach.
- Funding support for Dover schools and coaches travel time and travel expenses
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:
- Access for deserving young people and communities
- Tennis Festivals
- Tennis Roadshows
- Tennis Leaders Qualifications
- Teacher and Tennis Coach CPD
- Follow on Opportunities
- Build six + week programmes in primary schools integrated into the school’s curriculum through Net Gain CIC
- Create Tennis Champions in Primary Schools and assist with the setting-up of the schools own weekly after school tennis clubs
Key Contacts
Programme Director: Gavid Vickers
gavidvickers@infinity-tennis.co.uk
Coaches: Karen Hodgson
hodgson_k3@sky.com
