Free tennis sessions in Rochdale and Heywood

After the nation was gripped recently by Wimbledon, national sports charity ‘Tennis for Free’ (TFF) has served up an ace for Rochdale and Heywood by investing in a programme of free tennis sessions.  

In an exciting partnership with Rochdale Council, Rochdale Tennis Club, StreetGames and the LTA, Tennis for Free will provide free coach-led tennis sessions for all the family for one year as part of its aim to use tennis to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of all members of the community across the UK.

With over 100 schemes across the UK, Queen’s Park is one of several similar schemes in the North of England.

Everyone is welcome, no matter what your age, and you don’t need a tennis racket or a ball as all equipment is provided free of charge.

In addition, Rochdale Tennis Club is partnering with the charity to offer free hour-long TFF Lite sessions at the club for people aged 12 and over. 

Tennis for Free formed a new partnership with StreetGames in 2016 and is happy to be working with Link4Life, a deliverer of the LTA’s SERVES programme through this national partner. This aim of this partnership was to offer disadvantaged young people further opportunities to play tennis in their local communities through sustainable joined up opportunities.

 

 

Queen’s Park Lead scheme organiser Sarah Maeght said: "I am very excited to welcome Tennis for Free to Rochdale.

“The Queen’s Park Tennis for Free scheme is a fantastic opportunity for the local community to try tennis for either the first time, or to dust off the cobwebs after a time away from the sport.  It’s a fun, friendly and entertaining free weekly event where you’ll make new friends and benefit from regular exercise.  There is no catch, as the name suggests, everything is free.”

Tennis For Free CEO Paul Jessop said: “We are changing the image of tennis to a sport for ALL by removing the cost barrier so that members of all communities can play and benefit physically, mentally and socially. Queen’s Park is one of hundreds of schemes we are opening across the UK over the next five years as part of our plan to get more people playing this wonderful sport.

“We have created specially designed programmes to welcome families, the old and the young, of any ability and the beauty is that each session is led by qualified tennis coaches who will ensure people develop at their own pace. But it’s not just about the playing. 

"We have seen at our other schemes that small friendly community groups grow. 

"People can stay involved and help run the schemes.  

"We are always looking for local volunteers to grow the game, indeed some of our most successful and sustainable schemes across the UK have the coaches supported by a team of volunteers who organise further events which all contributes towards everyone’s well-being.

"It is great to be working with StreetGames and Rochdale Tennis Club to further expand the opportunities to all members of the community.”

Ian Buckley of Rochdale Tennis Club said: “It’s great that the club can partner with Tennis for Free, Rochdale Council and the LTA to generate this superb initiative.  Such outreach programmes will get more people playing tennis which is not just a great physical activity but also has many social benefits all of which will be great for the local area.”

Free tennis sessions take place at:

• Queen’s Park Tennis Courts, Queen’s Park Road, Heywood, OL10 4UY starting on Saturday 20 July 2019 from 9am - 10.30am. 
• Rochdale Tennis Club, Hollin Lane, Bamford, OL11 5PW starting on Friday 26 July 2019 4.30pm - 5.30pm.

Sign up for Tennis For Free at:

• www.tennisforfree.com