NATIONAL sports charity Tennis For Free has served up an ace for Solihull and the surrounding area by investing in a year-long programme of free tennis lessons – hoping hundreds of people across the area can make a racket at not one but two of the borough’s parks.
With Wimbledon just around the corner, the charity has created a partnership with Solihull Borough Council and the LTA to help provide free coach-led tennis sessions for all the family, starting on Saturday, June 24 every week at Malvern Park and Shirley Park.
You can play in the morning at Shirley Park from 10.30am to 12.30pm and then at Malvern Park between 2-4pm. You do not need a racket or a ball as all equipment is provided free of charge.
Matt Corp, tennis coach and lead organiser at the Shirley Park site, said: “We are all very excited to welcome Tennis For Free to Shirley Park. It is a fantastic opportunity for all members of the local community to get into the spirit of trying tennis for either the first time or to dust off the cobwebs and try again.”
Ian Armfield, coach and organiser at Malvern Park, said: “The wonderful thing about this initiative is that it really is open to absolutely everyone regardless of age and ability. We don’t want anyone to feel nervous or worried about coming down and trying!
“We are providing a welcoming and friendly environment in the park that we hope will lead to the community feeling part of what we are trying to create which is tennis for everyone and anyone.”
Tennis For Free is a registered charity founded by comedian Tony Hawks and fashion executive Patrick Hollwey. It aims to provide healthy, vibrant local tennis communities for free on public park tennis courts, creating new tennis players of all ages and backgrounds, and showing that tennis can be enjoyed by all.
Tennis For Free supporters include Judy Murray, mother of world number one Andy, BBC tennis commentator Andrew Castle and 1987 Wimbledon champion Pat Cash.
You can register for Tennis For Free as follows: Shirley Park at www.shirleyparktennis.co.uk or email [email protected]; Malvern Park at www.malvernparktennis.co.uk or email [email protected].
