Tennis charity serves up free coaching lessons in Birkenhead Park

Jun 23 2010 by Gemma Jaleel, Heswall News

DUST off your tennis whites and re-string your racquets because free tennis lessons are being served up in Birkenhead.

If you are feeling inspired by the Wimbledon tennis championships, which kicked off on Monday, why not head down to Birkenhead Park for free tennis coaching.

Tennis for Free, is a UK charity which promotes the provision of free tennis in public parks and open spaces and their coaching team will be in Birkenhead Park every Sunday from 2pm to 4pm.

The charity was founded in 2005 by actor and comedian Tony Hawks who has appeared on the BBC shows Have I Got News for You? and Red Dwarf.

Originally from Brighton he was a junior county tennis championship and still pays tennis as a hobby.

He met fashion executive Patrick Hollwey and together they formed the charity.

The charity works with schools, tennis clubs and local authorities throughout the UK giving children, young people and families the chance to learn and play tennis for 50 weeks of the year.

Mark McKean of Tennis for Free said: “This scheme is a great fun for all the family. We will teach people the basics including how to hold a racquet and how to do a forehand and backhand strokes.

Mark has been playing tennis for nearly ten years and is a qualified tennis assistant.

“All are coaches are LTA qualified and the idea is to make learning a new sport fun and enjoyable as well as getting people active.”

The project is being backed by Wirral Borough Council and coaching is open to anyone aged five and up.

Mark added: “People feel like tennis is an elitist sport but now you can learn how to play free of charge – you don’t even have to bring a racquet we can loan you one on the day.”

l For more information visit www.tennisforfree.com