GiveToLocal teams up with Tennis For Free

One of the North East’s fastest-growing service providers has launched a new national partnership with a leading sports charity.

GiveToLocal has teamed up with Tennis For Free as its technology and fundraising partner, supporting its charitable activities throughout the UK.

Tennis For Free is a charity backed by a host of recognisable faces, with Judy Murray, Pat Cash and Stephen Fry amongst their patrons.

Founded in 2004, the charity aims to eliminate barriers to participation specific to tennis, allowing as many people as possible to enjoy the physical and social benefits that the sport can provide.

Offering free public access to 129 park courts, the charity’s innovative approach has been to utilise tennis courts in local parks to offer free tennis to communities all over the UK.

Like many charities, COVID-19 has left its mark upon Tennis For Free, with the charity unable to take advantage of a number of key fundraising opportunities across what are normally busy summer months.

But despite the challenges, charity head Patrick Hollwey is excited and optimistic about the prospect of the national partnership with GiveToLocal.

“I’m really excited by what this partnership with GiveToLocal can offer grassroots tennis,” said Patrick.

“Working with the LTA, Tennis For Free provides opportunities to people from more deprived backgrounds.

“There are barriers that are in place stopping people from playing sport and we want to challenge and break down those barriers.

“Additionally, COVID-19 has presented us with difficult challenges. We had to cease all activities at the end of March and the peak period for outdoor sports is between April to September.

“So we’re really looking forward to kicking off this partnership with GiveToLocal as it gives us a chance to look forward.”

And renowned British comedian and Tennis For Free co-founder Tony Hawks is also in agreement about the partnership with GiveToLocal.

“We’re a very community focused charity,” said Tony.

“We aim to provide an activity for all, regardless of gender, background or ethnicity.

“We want to bring all sections of a community together which is obviously something that GiveToLocal looks to do too.”

The partnership between GiveToLocal and Tennis For Free will see the two work together to deliver a sustainable, accessible future for everything the charity provides.

And Colin Stromsoy, director of strategic partnerships at GiveToLocal, echoed the Patrick and Tony’s words of optimism.

“I couldn’t be more pleased that GiveToLocal has entered into a partnership with Tennis For Free,” said Colin.

“It’s a truly outstanding charity that has done so much over many years to break down barriers to physical activity and social inclusion through their free sessions.

“Tennis For Free is a charity whose core values resonate heavily with our own.

“The work that Patrick and his team have done since founding the charity back in 2004 has seen more opportunities provided to people from all over the UK, allowing them to enjoy the benefits of a healthy and active lifestyle.

“The whole team at GiveToLocal is looking forward to playing our part in the next chapter of this great charity and helping to ensure more people can continue to benefit from the terrific work they do right across the country.”

Last week, GiveToLocal opened up its innovative service to tennis clubs across the UK, taking the number of sports the organisation supports to 15.

And GiveToLocal CEO Neil Gardiner is enthusiastic about the potential power and reach of the new national partnership with Tennis For Free.

“To be able to form a positive working relationship with such a respected charity like Tennis For Free is an incredibly positive development for us as an organisation,” explained Neil.

“Positive physical activity should be available to anyone and everyone irrespective of how much money they have.

“To be able to play our part in helping more people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds access the services Tennis for Free provide is a real source of pride for our team.

“It also comes at a great time as we’ve recently added the sport of tennis to our family of sports, allowing tennis clubs nationwide to be able to benefit from GiveToLocal.

“So for us to roll out our service to tennis clubs and be able to partner up with the leading charity in the sport at the same time is incredible.

“This new partnership fills me, and the entire team here at GiveToLocal with an immense amount of pride. We can’t wait to get started!”

For more information about GiveToLocal, visit www.givetolocal.com.