Since April 2018 we have been providing regular tennis coaching sessions to clients from Freedom Support which provides training, support and arranges activities for adults with learning difficulties. These sessions have been made possible with financial support through grants that have been made available to the tennis club. Bright Ideas for Tennis has been instrumental in helping to setup the inclusive tennis programme at the club. They are a charity who aim to help clubs generate funds to increase participation levels at tennis clubs across the country. The club has also been lucky to receive the support of Harborough District Council through financial support and through assistance at various sessions from their team. The club has also provided a team of volunteers who have dedicated their time to assist with the running of the sessions, which has helped to make them so successful.
In addition to clients from Freedom Support, children from Birkett House special school have also been enjoying tennis sessions. The pupils have a range of learning needs from profound and multiple learning difficulties to a moderate disability. Tennis is the perfect way to allow these students to develop a different skill set outside of the classroom.
The focus of the tennis sessions is to help improve the agility, balance and co-ordination of the players which will assist with the development of their tennis skills. All clients who have been regularly attending have made vast improvements in their ability to play tennis.
Please see the video below for a small sample of one of the Freedom Support tennis sessions.