Press Release - Sport England awards £45,698 to Oadby Tennis Club
Press Release
Oadby (Granville) Tennis Club awarded £45,698 of funding from Sport England
Date: 23rd May 2014
Oadby (Granville) Tennis & Social Club is among 324 local sports projects to secure a share of £17 million of National Lottery funding from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities fund.
Oadby (Granville) Tennis & Social Club will receive £45,698 of National Lottery funding to upgrade facilities at the club, which was formed in 1946. The current clubhouse which was built (largely by members themselves) in 1982 will benefit from a new heating system, improved insulation and a new ceiling and lighting system from the funding. The club has 300 members aged 4-80, with 26 senior teams and a thriving junior section. Last year the club won Tennis Leicestershire’s Division One titles in Mixed Doubles, Men’s Veterans and Winter League Men’s Doubles. .
Sport England Property Director, Charles Johnston, said: “The Inspired Facilities Fund has had a huge impact on grassroots sport across the country. Since 2011, we’ve invested £88 million into more than 1,600 projects to improve and refurbish sports clubs and transform non-sporting venues into vibrant community sports clubs.
“It’s great to see Oadby Granville join the long list of successful clubs to benefit from this fund.”
Club Chairman, Katie England, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded Sport England funding which will enable us to modernise our clubhouse. We can now continue the development of the club and improve the quality of our facilities in line with the passion and enthusiasm of our members, coaches and the local community. This regeneration of the clubhouse will be key to our longer term plan for the club to thrive and grow for many years to come.”
MP for Harborough, Oadby & Wigston, Sir Edward Garnier, said: “I am pleased to hear about the £45,698 from the National Lottery for Oadby Tennis Club. With summer (and Wimbledon) just around the corner, I hope the Tennis Club will benefit from the better facilities for its existing club members and the many more who will be attracted to it.”
Paul Sheard, Regional Tennis Participation Manager for the LTA commented, “I am delighted that Oadby (Granville) Tennis Club was successful in their application to the Sport England Inspired Facilities fund. The club provides a broad range of tennis opportunities for the local community and the upgraded clubhouse facilities will ensure that they are able to provide a safe and welcoming environment that encourages a broad range of people to take part in the sport”.
Avril Lennox MBE, Oadby & Wigston Borough Council Leisure Development Officer added, “I am delighted that Sport England has awarded the club this grant to improve their facilities. Widening access to sport fulfils a key objective of the Oadby & Wigston Borough Council Leisure Facilities Strategy. Tennis, as with other sports improves the health and fitness of those individuals participating; it positively tackles obesity, provides a disciplined sport and promotes a sense of belonging. The positive knock-on effect of the funding will be the retention of current members and the ability to attract new members, thus increasing participation.”
The work on the clubhouse is due to start in July and will be finished in time for the club’s annual tournament in September.
