Play Tennis for Free at Hammersmith Park

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Coach led sessions for all ages on offer in Shepherd's Bush every Saturday lunchtime

Head for the courts at Hammersmith Park in Shepherd's Bush on Saturdays and you and your family can learn to play tennis absolutely free.

National sports charity Tennis For Free is serving up the free programme, starting this Saturday, 28 September from 1pm till 2.30pm and continuing every Saturday lunchtime.

Tennis for Free has teamed up with the Lawn Tennis Association and Hammersmith & Fulham Council to provide free coach-led tennis sessions for all the family for one year as part of its aim to use tennis to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of all members of the community across the UK.

The Hammersmith Park Tennis For Free sessions will be led by professional tennis coach Kieron Jones and everyone is welcome. You don’t need a racket or a ball as all equipment is provided free of charge. All you need to do is sign up at Tennis for Free.

Kieron said: "I am very excited to welcome Tennis For Free to Hammersmith Park and join the other 100+ Tennis For Free sites across the UK. The Tennis For Free scheme is a fantastic opportunity for the local community to try tennis for either the first time, or to dust off the cobwebs after a time away from the sport.

"It’s a fun, friendly and entertaining free weekly event where you’ll make new friends and benefit from regular exercise. There is no catch, as the name suggests, everything is free."

Tennis For Free CEO Paul Jessop said: "We are changing the image of tennis to a sport for ALL by removing the cost barrier so that members of all communities can play and benefit physically, mentally and socially.

"The new Hammersmith Park Tennis For Free site is one of hundreds of schemes we are opening across the UK over the next five years as part of our plan to get more people playing this wonderful sport.

" We have created specially designed programmes to welcome families, the old and the young, of any ability and the beauty is that each session is led by qualified tennis coaches who will ensure people develop at their own pace.

" But it’s not just about the playing. We have seen at our other schemes that small friendly community groups grow. This social cohesion is great to see especially for those who may not think tennis is for them but is for another member of their family.

"People can still stay involved and help run the schemes. We are always looking for local volunteers to grow the game, indeed some of our most successful and sustainable schemes across the UK have the coaches supported by a team of volunteers who organise further events which all contributes towards everyone’s wellbeing."

Sarah Ferrier from the LTA said: "We are very excited about the free activities being created for people to play tennis in Hammersmith through the Tennis for Free programme. People will be able to play informally with family and friends which is really important in encouraging people to play. "But Tennis For Free is also about the ability to meet new people and develop friendships, taking regular exercise and simply having fun. It isn’t about finding the next Andy Murray, but about making tennis accessible to all."

"This is a fantastic opportunity for residents to get active in the fresh air in one of our Green Flag awarded parks," said Cllr Wesley Harcourt, H&F Cabinet Member for Environment. "The sessions are free and open to everyone, from those who’ve never picked up a racket, to regular club players, so please come along."

Sign up for Tennis For Free at Hammersmith Park tennis courts every Saturday between 1pm and 2.30pm at 2:30p at Tennis for Free. You can also follow Tennis For Free on Twitter and Facebook @tennisforfree.

Hammersmith Park is off South Africa Road, behind the Television Centre in Wood Lane.

 

September 25, 2019