Free community tennis sessions are returning to St Mary’s Park in Prestwich to help improve people’s physical and mental wellbeing during the Covid-19 pandemic.

National sports charity Tennis for Free are relaunching the sessions on Sunday (4 Oct) in partnership with Bury Council and the LTA.

The sessions will be led by a professional tennis coach and take place every Sunday from 1pm to 2pm, initially for over-12s only.

All you need to do is sign up at: www.tennisforfree.com

Tennis For Free co-founder Patrick Hollwey said: “It has never been more important to get communities active again, especially those who have limited access to sport for various reasons. It is not just tennis; it is essential to continue the community spirit that has developed in these recent times, and what better way to do it than by getting everyone together on a tennis court?”

Tennis For Free work in partnership with Bury Live Well Service and the LTA, linking also with wellbeing groups and other local organisations including a new partnership soon to be announced with Give To Local who will help to raise funding for the scheme and to link up businesses and individuals across the locality making TFF truly a scheme run By the Community, For the Community.

Councillor Andrea Simpson, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “Sport is great for boosting our physical and mental health, which has become even more important during the coronavirus lockdown. We are delighted that these sessions are coming back to our borough – and, what’s more, they’re free!”

Follow Tennis for Free on Twitter and Facebook @tennisforfree and find out more at www.tennisforfree.com

ENDS

Press release issued:

Note to editors:

Tennis for Free has plans to bring more than 175,000 new tennis players, 2,000 coaches and 5,000 volunteers into the sport over the next five years. The charity, which has run free community tennis sessions at public parks across the UK since 2004 , is working with several partners to bring the opportunity to play the game to as many hard to reach communities as possible, benefiting those with limited access to sport, enhancing physical and mental well-being and re-energising people of all ages.  The new partnerships will boost the network of free tennis schemes by hundreds nationwide.

For further information please contact Peter Doherty in the council press office on 0161 253 6096. Alternatively please email communications@bury.gov.uk