BARNT Green Sports Club has been named ‘Club of the Year’ by Herefordshire & Worcestershire LTA after a significant uptake in members and community outreach.
The tennis section at the club, based on Margesson Drive, enjoyed a successful 2020 despite having to close for much of the year.
Schemes to get other sections of the club involved in playing tennis proved a success with existing members, while non-members were provided with numerous incentives to increase membership to the highest level it has ever been.
And a partnership with charity Tough Enough to Care saw the club provide support for people struggling with their mental health.
Also recognised was club coach Christopher Davis, who scooped the Development Coach of the Year award.
He said: “It was a very proud moment for me to be nominated – I never thought I’d go on to win it.
“I started creating daily tennis videos which were fun and light-hearted.
“The aim was to keep spirits up and spread as much positivity as possible. The videos got more and more reactions from friends, other sports pages and professional tennis players.
“Outside of the lockdowns, it was just about getting as many people back on the court as possible.”
A club spokesman added: “With record membership numbers, and really high participation, we see this award as recognition of all our volunteers’ efforts.
“That said, we would still love to see more people come and have a go. We have a wide range of courses and sessions open to all.”
For more information see the club’s Facebook page.
