Exeter tennis club celebrates Olympic legacy funding

Victoria Park Tennis Club in St Leonard’s, Exeter, has secured Olympic legacy funding of £50,000 from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities Fund.

Sport England today revealed that more than 1,000 local sports projects across the country have now received National Lottery funding through Inspired Facilities, which is part of the £150 million Places People Play legacy programme. Every sports facility that receives funding will carry the London 2012 Inspire mark, celebrating the link to the Games.

The funding means the tennis club will be able to extend the clubhouse to put in disabled access and toilets, put in more floodlighting and also upgrade the facilities which are used by local schools and community groups, as well as members. The Bridge section, which has been part of the Club for many years will also benefit from the expansion, as membership numbers are increasing there too.

“We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded this funding. The tennis section is thriving - we have four men's teams and two ladies' teams, plus a mixed team, so we hope that with all four courts floodlit, instead of just two, it will enable us to play matches as well as giving non team members access to playing tennis on match nights,” said Sue Stott, the chair of the Victoria Park Tennis Club.

“Currently we have lots of people wanting to play, but we don’t have the capacity for them all, so this funding will benefit many new players. We would like to encourage more wheelchair tennis in Devon and so this funding will assist us in providing better access to both courts and clubhouse and improve the car park, which is in dire need of repair. The club has been here since 1845 and the club house is over 30 years old so it is imperative we bring the facilities up to today’s standards to make tennis accessible to - and affordable for - everyone. We might even find the next Andy Murray!”

Victoria Park Tennis Club also offers tennis coaching at both junior and adult level and is affiliated to the University of Exeter, benefiting from the high level of coaching offered by the University’s own tennis centre.

One of the tennis coaches is part of the Devon Disability Tennis organisation and provides coaching to disability schools in Exeter and is keen to provide further specialist coaching sessions to wheelchair users of all ages and abilities. The club is working with Active Devon to become a central hub of wheelchair tennis in the county.

Sport England’s Chair, Richard Lewis, said: “This National Lottery investment is helping us deliver a lasting sporting legacy in Devon from last year’s successful Olympic and Paralympic Games. With so many clubs in the South West having benefited from this fund already and building on the success of last summer, this is the legacy people want for their local community.”

Victoria Park Club is one of 310 projects across England to receive lottery investment from the third round of the Inspired Facilities fund and one of over 1,000 to benefit overall, with the milestone being achieved one year ahead of schedule.

Many more communities can still benefit from the fund, with a further two rounds remaining. Bids will be accepted for the fourth round of Inspired Facilities Funding from 4th March 2013. You can find out more at
www.sportengland.org/inspiredfacilities.