A PARTNERSHIP between Droitwich Tennis Club and Redrow Homes has led to a large increase in the number of youngsters playing tennis in the town. The two-year sponsorship deal for the club is now in its second year and has helped coaches promote the sport among young people with 27 per cent more youngsters taking up tennis in the last 18 months. Droitwich Tennis Club now works with around 200 children aged five to 18 across eight schools, including dedicated sessions to encourage teenage girls to be active. The club was recently shortlisted by the Hereford and Worcester Sports Partnership for the Community Club of The Year Award. Club chairman Neil Bates said the sponsorship deal worked really well as the funding allowed the club to plan courses months in advance and enabled schools to add sessions into their timetables. “This in turn gives school reassurance that we are around and encouraging their pupils to take part.” He added some schools had paid for extra sessions to keep training going throughout the whole school year and almost 50 children had also taken up the course through after school clubs. The last six-week course encouraging teenage girls to play tennis attracted 21 participants. Pauline Turnbull, Redrow Homes (Midlands) sales director, said: “It’s organisations like Droitwich Tennis Club that help create a sense of community and make the neighbourhood somewhere people really want to live.” She added the results were testament to the hard work and dedication of all involved and it was great the company’s sponsorship had helped make a difference. Email neilbates1963@sky.com or visit www.droitwichtennis.co.uk for more on Droitwich Tennis Club.
Droitwich Tennis Club has seen a 27% uptake in children taking up tennis in the 18 months since a sponsorship deal with Redrow begun. The club now works with around 200 children across eight local schools, with almost 50 children taking up a tennis course through after-school clubs. Redrow sales director (Midlands) Paul Smith said: “Children are drawn to our products because they feel like they’re playing something that is fun and challenging.