Charity offers free rackets and balls to help Sale West children have fun during lockdown.
There’s no Wimbledon this year so Sale West could soon become the new UK home of tennis. Communities United Project, in partnership with the Tennis Foundation and StreetGames, are distributing rackets and balls to local children and families who don’t normally have access to equipment or the chance to play.
“This is a great chance for kids in Sale West to get used to holding a proper racket, hitting the ball and seeing where it takes them,” says Robert Pepper, Chair of Communities United Project. “Playing sport can transform our mood and provide something positive to focus on during this tricky time”. Four local schools will be given the equipment to be distributed to local families.
Whether it’s hitting a ball against a wall or playing against a (socially distant) friend, trying, practising and getting better can bring a tremendous sense of achievement – particularly for those who thought tennis was not for them.
Whatever wider potential someone has inside them, tennis can help to bring it out. In non-lockdown times Communities United Project work with them to help bring tennis into local communities via the SERVES community tennis programme.
The four schools distributing the equipment are:
- Ashton on Mersey High School
- St Margaret’s Ward Primary school
- Woodheys Primary school
- Firs Primary school
Stronger communities
Communities United Project support people in Sale West to create great community activities. Our work develops strengths, builds skills and opens up routes to training and qualifications. We help communities to be stronger.
In Sale West we support:
- The Munch Club, a holiday activity programme for 5 – 10-year olds
- Daddy & Me, an opportunity for dads and their pre-school children to meet and chat over a sandwich and a brew
- Youth Leadership programme – provides training, mentoring, volunteering and work experience opportunities.
- Training for volunteers including Mental Health Awareness courses and “ Engaging Youth in Community Activity”
- Pocket Park Project – Engaging local families in environmental activities