July 2010
Challenging educational
underachievement
xl tennis programme
participants visited the Wimbledon Championships to
celebrate the end of a seven-week tennis course and met Tim
Loughton MP, Minister of Families and Children.
The scheme, which is being piloted by The
Prince’s Trust, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and Gosling
International High Performance Centre included xl participants from
West Herts College, Francis Bacon School and The Park
ESC.
This new initiative provides grass-root
opportunities, engaging disadvantaged young people in tennis. It
offered 14 to16 year-olds who were at risk of truanting or
under-achievement an introduction to the game of tennis through
coaching sessions, access to educational materials; as well as
sessions with Gosling High Performance Tennis Centre staff on
nutrition, healthy lifestyles and associated future careers to the
game.
The scheme aims to improve attendance,
self-esteem, motivation and social skills, whilst working towards
the xl qualification. There was also a tennis festival for all
participants at Gosling International High Performance Centre
before the final celebration at the Wimbledon Championships.