Exeter a top priority for tennis governing body

The city was selected as just one of 11 cities chosen across the country this summer to focus on widening participation. The Tennis in Exeter project means that Exeter will enjoy increased support from LTA field staff, in a programme intended to be expanded across the whole of the South West in the coming years.

Exeter was chosen as a key area in the South West due to its range of facilities and opportunities to take part in tennis.

LTA Tennis Development Manager James Deem commented: “It has been an exciting year working on the Tennis in Exeter project, working with local partners and a media campaign to show the people of Exeter that tennis is an affordable sport to access and that all members of the family can enjoy. We have seen hundreds of people across our participation events in the city, especially after Andy Murray success at Wimbledon this summer.”

The LTA is working with a number of partners across the city including 2012 LTA Education Award winner, Exeter Tennis Centre, which is one of the largest indoor tennis facilities in the country.

The Centre’s Director of Tennis, Will McNally, explained how beneficial the partnership is to community tennis. He commented: “The Tennis in Exeter project has come at a very exciting time for us and helped us to revamp our autumn programmes which are designed to encourage the development of tennis at all ages.

“We work incredibly closely with the LTA on all of our programmes and have recently started a number of new initiatives, including a Mini Tennis Awards Scheme, to get people from across the city to pick up a racket and get playing.

“One of our major goals is to increase community participation. For the city to receive this extra support is great news for tennis in the South West. We look forward to working with a LTA to bring tennis to as many people in the city as possible.”

Throughout the Autumn Exeter Tennis Centre are running a number of programmes for players of all ages and abilities including children’s October half-term holiday camps. For further information visit the Exeter Tennis Centre website.