Tennis Foundation announces Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson as Trustee
Paralympic legend Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE is set to take a leading role in grassroots and disability tennis after joining the Board of Trustees of the Tennis Foundation today.
Eleven-time Paralympic gold medalist Grey-Thompson becomes the latest Trustee of Britain’s leading tennis charity, which promotes tennis throughout education, for disabled people and the wider community in partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) with support from Sport England and UK Sport.
Baroness Grey-Thompson marked her appointment with a visit to Sir Charles Parsons School in Walker, Newcastle, which specialises in supporting children with additional needs. She chatted to staff and pupils at the school before watching groups of visually impaired children play tennis using a specially-developed ‘sound ball’ containing ball bearings.
Baroness Grey-Thompson said:
“Tennis is a fantastic sport for life and I’m very excited to be joining the Tennis Foundation. Their mission is to make tennis accessible for everyone and I look forward to working closely with the Tennis Foundation’s team to help achieve that. It was fantastic to see the pupils at Sir Charles Parsons School having so much fun playing tennis today and if we can get more kids being active at a young age, they are more likely to carry out that healthy habit into adulthood.”
Jonathan Lane, Chairman of the Tennis Foundation said:
“We’re delighted to have someone with Tanni’s achievements, energy and experience joining our lively group. She shares our values of diversity and inclusivity in sport and already she is proving a huge asset to us as an organisation.”
British tennis is working closely with Baroness Grey-Thompson and the All Party Commission on Physical Activity, which she co-Chairs. This Commission has been established to address the serious issue of physical inactivity in society.
Sir Charles Parsons School is part of a wider plan for Newcastle, which includes working with many schools to increase the amount of tennis opportunities across the city. The Tennis Foundation and LTA are currently working with the local School Games Organiser as well as the City Council’s Participation Team to coordinate an Inclusive Tennis Teacher Training programme.
The schools will receive free British Tennis Schools Equipment Packs and resources to help develop tennis within the curriculum as well as develop out of school opportunities and linking with local clubs.
