Sport England - Movement Fund has provided £15,000 of match funding
Resurfacing 2 tennis courts @ Wrenbury Tennis Club
Nantwich, Cheshire East, United Kingdom
Aim
To replace our deteriorating court surfaces, which currently pose a hazard for our players and prevents us from playing in the winter.
Who are we
Wrenbury Tennis Club is a vital community hub dedicated to providing tennis and social connection for the rural area around Wrenbury. In a region where rural isolation is a genuine challenge, our club offers a crucial space for residents to stay active and engaged. Playing tennis keeps our rural community active while providing a vital boost to mental health by bringing people together to stay connected
While we are a small club of 40 members, we take great pride in our inclusive, mature membership—with our eldest active player being 80 years old. With most of our members over 50, tennis is vital for their health, but we must provide safe, high-quality courts to keep them active without the risk of injury.
As a hub for the Rural Farmers Tennis Leagues, we proudly host the PLC (Men's) and Widows (women’s) leagues, bringing activity and visibility to our courts within the local farming community.
Our Wednesday Ladies' Night is a brand-new initiative we're heavily promoting to champion women’s tennis across the region. By teaming up with three other local clubs, we’re creating a thriving hub where female players—mostly over 50—can stay active, social, and connected.
Beyond our league play, these courts are the heart of the village every Saturday morning for kids' lessons and Tuesday mornings for our 'Rusty Rackets' group, ensuring players of all ages stay active and safe
Why do we need your help?
To maintain this momentum year-round and to keep attracting more players to our courts, we need to address our deteriorating court surfaces. The aim is to replace our worn and deteriorating court surfaces, transforming them from a safety hazard into a vibrant, all-season space where players of all ages and abilities can come together to enjoy a game, even throughout the winter.
The current conditions pose a serious slipping hazard during the winter months, especially for our senior players. Upgrading these surfaces is essential to keeping our community active and safe. These new courts will be much 'softer'—offering better shock absorption for our knees and hips.
The cost of upgrading the 2 courts to an all-weather (Advantage Pro Synthetic Grass) surface is £ 40 800. We aim to raise these funds, with grants, sponsors, donations, crowdfunding and summer events.
What will it mean for Wrenbury community
Upgrading our courts is about more than just new surface; it’s a long-term investment in our village's heart. Here is what it will do for the community:
Preventing Injury: High-quality, non-slip winter surface will help prevent injuries and make playing much softer and safer.
Winter Leagues: New surfaces mean we can safely host winter league matches again, ensuring the club stays active 12 months a year rather than shutting down when the weather turns.
Beating Isolation: In a rural area, the "chat after the game" is just as important as the match. Resurfaced courts ensure these vital social connections aren't broken for the many women and farmers who rely on them.
Active Aging: It provides a safe, low-impact environment for our members—most of whom are over 50—to stay fit, agile, and healthy well into their later years.
The Wednesday Initiative: A reliable, high-quality facility will act as the "home base" for our new Wednesday Ladies' Night. By partnering with three other clubs, we are creating a dedicated space to champion women’s tennis and get more women on the court.
Sustainability: Proper resurfacing lasts for years, reducing maintenance costs and making the club more attractive to new female players and families who will eventually lead the club.
Community Pride: A modern facility shows that our rural community is thriving and worth investing in, encouraging local farmers/people to join the club and participation in summer events/tournaments and fundraisers.
Resurfacing turns a "seasonal hazard" into a safe, year-round community sanctuary that keeps our women, farmers, and senior residents connected and healthy.
O
We are organising several fundraising events/tournaments over the summer and are looking for donations and partners/sponsors.
We have already started our fund raising with the following activities;
- Received a donation from Parish Council
- Received donations for our tennis coach for every racket re-strung
- Currently have found 2 shirts sponsors
- All members are shopping online and raising funds via "easyfundraising"
- Applied for local donation with Heeler foods (Local company)
- Applied for Cheshire Community grant
- Organising fundraising event,
- Tennis Tournament 17Th May,
- Safari Night 25th July,
- Race night , Quiz night.
We have several sponsorship options available from Wind banners, Center Court naming, kit sponsorship to sponsoring a tennis tournament/event. Our Funding committee is currently approaching local companies about the possibilities for sponsorship.
We have approach the local newspaper (Nantwich News) and they have just published our story online;
https://thenantwichnews.co.uk/2026/05/01/wrenbury-tennis-club-targets-new-courts-after-fairytale-season/
We are also increasing our visibility on social media and reporting weekly on our tennis success but also an update on our fund raising.
How can you help?
There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.
1. Make a pledge. If you are interested in sponsorship or simply want to donate, let us know.
2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.
3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out on our social media, maybe even the local Nantwich newspaper!
4. Fundraise for us. If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored activity or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won’t need any bank details. Just a fun idea!
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 11th September 2026 at 4:07pm