It’s Wimbledon and that time of year when tennis becomes a popular spectator sport. Whilst millions of us love watching, however, Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) statistics reveal a continuing decline in participation rates – currently 3.4% year on year, according to the newly published Sport England Active Lives Survey.
In Bodmin, on the other hand, tennis membership at the town’s leisure centre has nearly doubled – bucking the national trend.
Run by charitable social enterprise provider GLL, the centre has three indoor and four floodlit outdoor courts. Regarded by many as the best facility of its kind in Cornwall, GLL has recently invested £60,000 in new LED lighting for the indoor courts and halved the price of membership from £100 per year to £50.
“Our programme is based around play, learn and train,” said tennis development manager Steve Holmes, who has worked at the centre for 18 years. “We visit local schools and have been part of the LTA’s Tennis for Kids initiative since it was launched three years ago. Open to children aged 4-11, the LTA scheme costs £25 and includes six tennis lessons, a new tennis racket, a set of balls and a personalised t-shirt. We’ve held four courses since the end of April and have 40 new young people playing regularly as a direct result.
“ We’re also running a Wimbledon promotion with 25% off all adult and junior tennis courses and we participate in the LTA’s Great British Tennis Weekends, providing free tasters sessions for the whole family.”
22,000 people were interviewed for the Sport England survey. London recorded the highest tennis participation rate with 22% saying they played monthly. In the South West, the number was just 5% – the same figure as the North East and the lowest percentage nationally.
“At GLL, we believe it’s very important to engage with ‘hard to reach’ groups who might otherwise not have access to tennis,” said regional director Juliette Dickinson. “It’s all about breaking down the perception that tennis is a sport for those living in leafy Surrey suburbs. It isn’t, and I’m delighted that Bodmin is helping to attract the next generation of tennis talent.”
Bodmin Leisure Centre operates under GLL’s ‘Better’ brand. Awarded a 25-year contract by Cornwall Council to run the county’s network of leisure centres and sports facilities on 1 April 2017, the organisation re-invests all surplus into improvements that benefit the local community.