Get Set 4 Tennis Covid Recovery

Aim

Providing a community facility for everyone to use, but in particular children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Who are Get Set 4 Tennis?

GS4 tennis is a non profit tennis club, formed in August 2018 by Jon and Lisa Wildman with the aim of building an inclusive tennis club for everyone. 

We approached Three Rivers council who kindly allowed us to restart GS4 when restrictions were lifted in June 2020 on two courts in Maple Cross. We launched a range of free and pay as you go lessons for the local community which saw a huge uptake of between 100-200 children and adults attending each week, with a special focus on disability tennis. We run age group lessons, as well as lessons for girls, key workers, inclusive, family group, child fitness and holiday camps.

What will we spend the money raised on?

Disruption due to bad weather and now having nowhere to shelter/get shade can cause many children distress, and in some cases, lead to them having epileptic fits/seizures, or children becoming very upset, restless, and verbally anxious. Cancelling summer sessions when it is very hot, or winter sessions when it is cold/wet, has a negative impact on these children’s physical, social, and mental wellbeing. The routine the sessions offer and the chance to meet friends and be active, is something they look forward to and when they cannot do this because they have nowhere to shelter when it is too hot, cold, or wet leaves them feeling depressed and sad. In the past we could have used our sports hall to run the session out of bad weather or quickly transfer into a classroom for shelter. Parents/carers believe this project will solve the issue of now having no shelter. Through the installation of two converted shipping containers to act as a clubhouse, we will improve the places and spaces to those that matter.

Money raised from this campaign will be used to purchase a converted container building much like the one in the picture.

Why do we need this project?  

Having been initially based at a school, using 6 courts, a sports hall and a classroom, we had to leave there when lockdown started in March 2020 not knowing what the future of our club would be. We were exceptionally fortunate to find a supportive council to allow us use of their courts, but as you can see we are now just a two court club with no other facilities. 

When lockdown hit in December, we provided online sessions to keep/support peoples weekly routine, whilst using these to stay in contact with the children, parents, and carers. By doing so it is evident that the last 14 months has taken a toll on everyone. Many of our SEND children have had to shield and are now fearful/anxious about participating in activities outside the house. Talking to parents/carers they highlight how important routine is to these children, and how our sessions are very much the highlight of their week.

Club Impact

Since restarting after Covid we have provided lessons for the whole community. Parents and families in particular have given feedback on how inclusive we are and how comfortable they felt joining in our programmes, even during lockdowns when we ran online lessons for everyone! After returning from the last lockdown we have started outreach programmes in local primary, nursery and SEND schools and in total teach nearly 600 children and adults every week!

Our club has laid a community pathway for wheelchair users and we had the full support of the local council and the community!

And has led us to be named Disability Provider and Education Provider of the Year for Herts Lawn Tennis Association 2021

And just before Christmas we invested in portable floodlights to enable us to play all year round.....

Having a building will have an impact on the entire community but in particular those with learning disabilities, mental difficulties, sensory impairments, and physical disabilities. By providing access to these facilities, it will enable the community to participate in our provision all-year-round, supporting them to be mentally, physically and socially active. It will also help to bring  children and their families closer together, having a place to socialise during bad weather, further enabling them to make new friendships and build strong relationships with those who also have a disability.

As a not-for-profit organisation we are dedicated to helping children with learning disabilities, mental difficulties, sensory impairments, and physical disabilities become more physically and mentally active through specially adapted tennis coaching, team building games, multi-sports and fitness activities which provide an escapism for them to be active, make friends and spend a few hours a week forgetting about their disability and enjoying the things most people take for granted. 

Get Set 4 Tennis - More than just another tennis club

Funding the purchase of two converted shipping containers to use as clubhouse, where our families can shelter or provide shade, when required during the delivery of our year-round sessions so they can continue to be mentally, physically, and socially active, would mean everything to our community. 

We have a fantastic set of rewards for you to choose from to be able to support us, along with places in our fundraising week events from Monday 28th June to Sunday 4th July.

Your support is greatly appreciated!

This project successfully funded on 9th July 2021