Free tennis sessions for disadvantaged children

Money has been raised from the local community to pay for the lessons

Children from disadvantaged backgrounds are being offered free tennis lessons in Kent, funded by local businesses and club members.

Rally for Change is a collaboration between Net Gain Communities and Infinity Tennis.

Money has been raised from the local community that will pay for 16 local players to have two coaching sessions a week for a year, plus a free tennis racket.

Participants should be in receipt of free school meals and live close to Margate, Broadstairs, Ramsgate, Herne Bay or Faversham tennis club and they must be referred by their school.

The project aims to teach new skills but also develop discipline, improve health and wellbeing and open up new social opportunities for young people.

Gavid Vickers, Head Coach at Infinity Tennis, told BBC Radio Kent: “The barriers to playing tennis are more perceived than actual. There is a perception that it is an expensive and elitist sport and that could not be further from the truth.

“My personal background is that I had free school meals after my dad had a heart attack and tennis was one of the things that kept me going, so I wanted to give the opportunity I had to future generations.”

'You need strong arms and legs'

Heidi from Herne Bay is getting lessons. Although she already plays some sports, she never thought that tennis was for her.

She said: “Its quite hard but fun. You need strong arms and legs and you need to be fast to get onto your happy feet to be able to move around.”

Mr Vickers' aim is to encourage everyone to try tennis all year round, not just the two weeks Wimbledon is on.

He added: “We have all weather courts now with hundreds of kids who play in December and January in the snow."