Chelmsford residents enjoy low-cost tennis lessons at Lionmede Park
Following recent renovations to many of the district’s tennis courts, Chelmsford City Council and Chelmsford Tennis Academy invited residents to give tennis a go, with low-cost and free group tennis lessons.
Inviting new users to refurbished courts
Thanks to extensive investment from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), multiple tennis courts across Chelmsford have been refurbished – including four courts at Lionmede Park. To encourage new users, the council’s Community Sport and Wellbeing team collaborated with Chelmsford Tennis Academy to provide free and subsidised coaching sessions.
A coach from Chelmsford Tennis Academy delivered 8-weeks of group lessons to three different groups: Children aged six to 8; children aged 10 to 16 and; women of all ages. The children’s sessions cost £40 for all 8 hour-long sessions and were subsidised by Chelmsford City Council. The women’s sessions were free, thanks to funding from Active Essex.
Research for the LTA found that many women like the idea of playing tennis but are deterred by various barriers including lack of time, body confidence issues and not feeling good enough. Through its She Rallies initiative, the LTA seeks to help women overcome those barriers and get on the courts.
Councillor Natacha Dudley, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, says it’s important to encourage people to try all forms of sport:
““We’re very fortunate to have benefitted from the LTA’s investment in improving courts across the country. As a result, residents have access to high-quality tennis courts and, as a council, we want to ensure that they’re using them. By providing low-cost and free lessons we are making it possible for anyone interested in playing tennis to come along and try it out.
Cllr Natacha Dudley, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing
“During this summer of sport, I encourage everyone to take a look at the Chelmsford City Sport website to see which wonderful facilities they have access to. Exercise is so important for our health and wellbeing and finding an activity you enjoy can be a simple, fun route to improving your overall wellbeing.”
What the courses provided
The sessions served to inspire new players to try their hand at something new and encourage out-of-practice players to dust off their rackets. In a relaxed and supportive environment, beginners learned the basics through fun games and activities.
Great feedback has been received from all groups, with many of the younger participants now determined to become the next Arthur Fery! Meanwhile, a participant of the women’s course said she enjoyed the social side just as much as the learning:
““We’ve been lucky to have had such a great group; we’ve had a great time learning and just as much fun messing up! I’ll miss these weekly lessons and will definitely be looking into the Free Park Tennis sessions the LTA offers.”
Participant
Where to play tennis in Chelmsford
It’s not just Lionmede Park’s courts that benefited from the LTA’s investment. There are more premium courts available at Chelmer Park and Oaklands Park. These courts are bookable for £5-8.50 per hour via the LTA’s website.
There are also free-access courts available at Admirals Park, Central Park, Chancellor Park and Tower Gardens. Free-to-use courts at Andrews Park and Melbourne Park are also bookable via the LTA’s website.
Tennis courts at Oaklands Park.
There are indoor courts that can be used for short tennis at Riverside Leisure Centre and Chelmsford Sport and Athletics Centre. South Woodham Ferrers Leisure Centre has bookable floodlit outdoor courts. You can learn more and make a booking on our website.
Why not give it a go?
Women's sessions at Lionmede extended
Following the success of the free 8-week programme, Chelmsford Tennis Academy is now offering weekly group coaching sessions for women at Lionmede tennis courts. The Tuesday evening sessions can be booked weekly and cost £7 per session. Book here.
Learning opportunities for kids
Chelmsford Tennis Academy will be running tennis games during this summer’s Picnic in the Park sessions at Chelmer Park (on Tuesday 11 August). So, if your little one would like to give tennis a go, be sure to book on to either the morning or afternoon session! Book here.
Elsewhere, we have teamed up with Wickford Lawn Tennis Club and Sport England to offer children's tennis lessons at South Woodham Ferrers Leisure Centre. Learn more on the Wickford Lawn Tennis Club website.
