SLF started coaching tennis as part of a summer camp delivery to fifty Year 6 students in 2 schools in diverse Birmingham in 2015.   Tennis was popular, so it was launched as part of the new programme ‘
Building Character through Sport’ with the Commonwealth Games 2022.

Launch of Building Character through Sport with the LTA and Commonwealth Games 2022, Birmingham

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Following a successful few years delivering tennis as part of BCtS, SLF is now delighted to announce further grant support from the LTA Tennis Foundation to expand Building Character through Tennis to Bradford Leeds as well as Birmingham from 2024-27.

• Focussing on diverse communities in IMD areas 1-2, programme delivery will be to a further group of 30 primary schools and student base of more than 2,700 students in both cities.
• Data drawn from our first year of delivery has been outstandingly supportive of tennis as a perfect sport to encourage girls as well as boys into more physical activity every week. It has shown that students not only enjoy the game but find it sociable and it makes them feel happier and more confident. At one school, students were asked to rate their experience going to the activity out of 10 – 75 girls out of 80 rated their 27 week programme 10/10 with some even saying 1 million/10! Asked what they would change about the programme, most commented that they would like longer sessions than the 1 ½ hours they spent and that they rated their SLF coaches as ‘the best ever’.

“….the tennis delivered by your coaches is phenomenal. The coaches have built strong relationships with the children who all enjoy the sessions. The knowledge and expertise shown by coaches has helped improve children’s understanding and skills in tennis.

Furthermore, the punctuality and flexibility that the coaching team has shown has made it smooth and stress free on my behalf. There were occasions where the tennis coaches were asked to deliver their sessions in a differing setting and they responded with positivity and enthusiasm. These qualities have made it a pleasure to work alongside them.  Thank you!“

Mohammed, Deputy Head Teacher, Primary School, Birmingham, 2025

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SLF Bradford student does coin toss for Stefano Napolitano and Benjamin Bonzi, LTA Championships, Ilkley, Yorkshire, June 2024

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In each city, the LTA invited SLF coaches and students to attend the Rothesay Championships in Birmingham and Ilkley where they spent valuable hours playing tennis and watching elite players from the ATP and WTA tours.

For most, it was the first time they had witnessed elite tennis close up and it had an extraordinary impact on everyone concerned.

Left: Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA) signs autographs for SLF students, Birmingham 2023
Right: Sloane Stephens (USA) meets SLF students, Birmingham June 2024