Collaboration was the name of the game yesterday [Mon 22nd August], when two Sported member groups were given the opportunity to bring their young people together for a special tennis coaching session supported by the Tennis Foundation, hosted by Manchester Tennis Centre.

Sported member, John Paul II Youth Club from the Ardoyne in Northern Ireland, whilst on their summer tour to England paid a special visit to fellow Sported member club, Youth on Solid Ground (YSG) in Manchester.

The visit was organised by Sported as part of its partnership with the Tennis Foundation’s Serves programme,  which has seen the two groups – plus  eight other Sported member groups across the UK  – become the beneficiaries of brand-new, portable, pop-up tennis courts and modified kit (soft balls, appropriately sized rackets and nets).

The Serves programme aims to introduce the sport of tennis to new younger audiences, particularly in areas which have historically lacked tennis clubs and facilities. The programme’s accompanying Tennis Activator course trains community champions in basic tennis organisation and delivery skills to confidently run sessions in a fun and informal way.

Check out the following video to hear how both groups got along…