Press Release
Stratford-upon-Avon Tennis
Club awarded £50,000 of
funding from Sport England
25th September 2015
Stratford On Avon Tennis Club Officially Opens Its Indoor Domes
Stratford-upon-Avon Tennis Club is among 148 local sports projects to secure a share of £9
million of National Lottery funding from Sport England’s Inspired Facilities fund.
Since 2011, Inspired Facilities has been helping breathe new life into tired community sports
facilities and converting existing buildings into venues suitable for grassroots sport.
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 £102
million into more than 1,920 projects to improve and refurbish sports clubs and transform
non-sporting venues into vibrant community sports clubs.
“It’s great to see Stratford-upon-Avon Tennis Club join the long list of successful clubs to
benefit from this fund.”
Stratford on Avon Tennis Club has used the Inspired Facilities Fund to help finance its indoor
courts project, known as “The Domes,” and to resurface three out of its seven courts with
state of the art artificial clay surfaces.
Sport England’s grant along with additional funding from The Stratford Town Trust and the
LTA has enabled the club to bring this project in on time and on budget. Justin Williams, CEO
of Stratford Town Trust said: “We are very proud to support the outstanding facilities the
community can now access, enjoy and benefit from at Stratford Tennis Club. The ability to
play indoors all-year ‘round makes a huge difference to the future stars of the sport – and
we look forward to cheering on some home-grown champions.”
In recognition of this ambitious programme of improvement and its thriving coaching
programme, SOATC was awarded the prestigious ‘Club of the Year 2015’ by Warwickshire
LTA and has been chosen to host the Davis Cup Trophy Tour following Great Britain’s historic
win. Andrew Castle, former British No 1 Tennis Player and TV Presenter, will be on hand to
officially open the Domes during the Davis Cup Trophy Tour on Sunday 25th September 2016.
Sport England, 1st Floor, 21 Bloomsbury Street, London WC1B 3HF
E: [email protected] W: www.sportengland.org
T: 020 7253 1500 F: 020 7383 5740
Chairman John Dixon said: “We are extremely grateful for the investment that we received
from Sport England. The Inspired Facilities Fund has enabled our club to take an ambitious
idea and turn it into a reality within three years, ensuring we have the best possible club as
part of the 2012 Olympic’s legacy. Ours is a story about how clubs and funding partners can
work together for mutual benefit. We hope that this project could offer other clubs
inspiration and the motivation to develop their own 'Growing the Game' strategies’
ENDS
Notes to Editors
For more details about the project, please contact Liz Tomlinson on 07710 117555 or
[email protected]
At least 70 per cent of the funding will go to community and voluntary organisations,
through grants of between £20,000 and £75,000. The remaining funding will be open to a
wider group of organisations, including councils and schools, with grants of up to £150,000
available.
Sport England is focused on helping people and communities across the country create a
sporting habit for life. We will invest over £1 billion of National Lottery and Exchequer
funding between 2012 and 2017 in organisations and projects that will:
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Help more people have a sporting habit for life
Create more opportunities for young people to play sport
Nurture and develop talent
Provide the right facilities in the right places
Support local authorities and unlock local funding
Ensure real opportunities for communities.
The National Lottery has been changing lives for 18 years. Every week National Lottery
players raise over £30 million to help change people's lives across the UK.
For more information please contact the press office:
- Amy Andrew on 0207 273 1593 or [email protected];
- Nora Maguire on 0207 273 1889 or [email protected];
- Andrew St Ledger on 0207 273 1800 or [email protected].
Sport England, 1st Floor, 21 Bloomsbury Street, London WC1B 3HF
E: [email protected] W: www.sportengland.org
T: 020 7253 1500 F: 020 7383 5740