Always on
This project successfully funded on 10th October 2025, you can still support them with a donation.
Tennis Courts and Floodlight Refurbishment
Bedford, United Kingdom
Aim
We are a thriving tennis club but our courts and floodlights need replacing so we continue to offer these facilities to local communities
Who are we?
Sharnbrook Lawn Tennis club was founded in 1967 and is a thriving club situated in the heart of the village, providing all year round tennis facilities to all local villages. As a community amateur sports club (CASC) we are run entirely by volunteers.
We offer social tennis, coaching and more competitive tournaments to create opportunities to improve skills, meet new people and make friends who share a passion for tennis at any age. Membership is open to all upon application and our facilities are available all year round.
We are an LTA registered club and for those wishing to play more competitive tennis, we have teams in the Bedfordshire Tennis League in the Summer and Winter with home and away matches against other tennis clubs.
Our junior section is thriving, offering regular play and coaching sessions as well as holiday camps in the school holidays.
Why are we crowdfunding?
Our project is to upgrade our courts and floodlights that now need replacing. The underlying surface will be levelled to improve drainage and create a level playing surface and finished with Tiger Turf artificial grass, this will be recyclable at the end of its life. Our existing floodlights were installed in 1986, the columns need replacing and we will install LED lights to give us a more sustainable and lower environmental impact lighting system.
These improvements should future proof our club; the courts for up to 15 years and the floodlighting significantly longer. We want to ensure that our facilities remain available for the long term to all the local communities.
Over the last 12 years we have managed to accrue 80% of the funds needed to carry out this much needed refurbishment. Thank you to all our members, visitors and funding supporters who have made it possible to get this far.
We have been fortunate to secure grants/donations from Sharnbrook Parish Council, The Harpur Trust, Rural Grant Fund, Bedfordshire Tennis and Redrow for which we are very grateful.
The total refurbishment costs are expected to be circa £135,000 and with your help and the support of the Sport England Movement crowdfunding campaign we are hopeful to raise the additional funds required to allow us complete these much needed upgrades to our facilities in 2025.
How we’ll spend the money raised
All the money raised from the Sport England Movement Fund and the other funds raised will go towards the much needed refurbishment of our courts and floodlights. Should we exceed our target the surplus funds will go towards upgrading our fencing.
Community impact
Our Tennis Club is an important part of our village and the wider local communities who do not have their own facilities.
We provide opportunities for anyone to try out our sport at our open day or joining in one of the weekly scheduled social tennis sessions.
The coaches run a weekly Rusty Rackets session for adults returning to tennis or just want to improve their skills. We have a thriving junior section, with regular sessions to improve their skills as well as opportunities for social and competitive play. We also provide junior holiday clubs for the benefit of Sharnbrook residents and the surrounding villages.
Tennis is one of the many sports which contributes towards a healthy and active lifestyle, and something families and friends can do together. We are committed to providing these opportunities for the long term.
How you can play your part
There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.
1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!
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!
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!
Sport England - Movement Fund has provided £10,000 of match funding
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made