05/07/2026
On Friday we had the privilege of celebrating the success of our Schools Tennis Outreach Project, delivered through the East Kent Community Partnership (EKCP), at our annual Schools Tennis Festival at Deal Indoor Tennis Centre.
The festival brought together children from schools across Thanet, Herne Bay, Swale, Dover and Deal for an afternoon packed with fun tennis activities, teamwork and smiles.
A real highlight of the day was our inclusion tennis sessions, where the children experienced wheelchair tennis, visually impaired tennis and amputee tennis. These activities help young people gain a greater appreciation of the challenges that many disabled athletes overcome every day, while demonstrating that tennis really is a sport for everyone.
Throughout the year, the project delivers up to 16 hours of free tennis coaching into schools with some of the highest levels of disadvantage, with Free School Meal eligibility in some schools reaching 76%.
But our aim is to create a lasting legacy. Every school receives tennis equipment to keep, and staff are trained so that tennis can continue long after our coaching programme has finished.
Seeing children enjoying the sport together is a reminder of why this project exists. By removing barriers and taking tennis directly into our communities, we are opening up opportunities for children who may never otherwise have picked up a racket.
This project truly brings our mission to life: opening up tennis, inspiring healthier and happier communities, and creating the players of tomorrow.
