National award for Glasgow
Disability Tennis charity
group
Lesley Whitehead receives the Tennis Scotland award with four players from the Glasgow
Disability Tennis programme
A Glasgow group has been recognised for giving disabled tennis players
the chance to hone their skills on the court.
Following the success of Helensburgh's Gordon Reid at the Australian
Open, Glasgow Disability Tennis picked up its own trophy at the recent
Tennis Scotland awards.
Lesley Whitehead and four players from the programme attended the
ceremony at Newlands Tennis Club to receive the 2015 Tennis Scotland
Disability Programme Award.
The charity group, was set up in 2013 and is part of the Tennis
Foundation’s Disability Tennis Network programme providing
opportunities for disabled people to play. In just 2 years the programme
has grown, providing deaf, learning disability, visually impaired and
wheelchair tennis sessions. This has been possible through visiting 32
schools and linking with Glasgow Sport, Scottish Disability Sport, Tennis
Scotland and community disability groups.
The group has trained their coaching team through various disability
tennis coach education courses, greatly enhancing the quality of the
sessions.
In addition the coaches have been involved in local disability events. In
2015 this included a VI CPD, West of Scotland Paralympic Festival,
Ticket to Tokyo, an LD camp and Regional Series Tournament.
The participation numbers are continually improving, with 6 weekly
coaching groups offered all year round. In addition one of the coaches
visits the spinal injuries unit every 6 weeks to do taster sessions at the
hospital. The programme has recruited new members and benefits from
excellent volunteer support through local schools D of E programmes.
Two volunteers have now taken the LTA Level 1 course.
This year the programme has expanded further to offer new Regional LD
and wheelchair monthly match play sessions both of which are popular
with Glasgow players and other players from across Scotland.
Our players attend the TF disability camps and regional and national
competitions across the UK winning numerous medals. One player is on
the TF LD Performance Development Programme. Those that attend not
only learn new tennis skills but also get the opportunity to meet new
friends, develop social life skills, improve their health and fitness and
gain confidence in their own abilities.
Glasgow Disability Tennis is a valuable part of our community. It actively
promotes an inclusive, welcoming, safe and friendly environment that its
members feel proud to belong to.