APPENDIX D
Salt Hill Tennis Club
Proposal for Slough tennis development
1 Background
Our proposal is submitted by Slough Salt Hill Tennis Club on behalf of its members and the tennis players in and around the Borough of Slough.
Slough Community Leisure has proposed to redevelop the indoor tennis centre into a bowling alley and to maintain tennis provision outdoors in Salt Hill Park with the benefit of minimal investment and a coach-led development plan.
We had hoped that the many public and private objections to stopping indoor tennis in Slough would cause SCL to reconsider. Unfortunately this has not been the case and we feel that there has been scant regard or respect given to due process and true consultation. This proposal has therefore been collated in a short period of time and cannot compare with the time and resources that SCL has applied to Bowling – much of the detail and implementation will be handled in direct partnership and negotiation with SBC.
We contest that the removal of the indoor facility will deny local residents accessible and affordable tennis in Central Slough. The sacrifice of a valuable community service to feed the financial needs of a sub-contractor does not meet the best interests of the local population.
The tennis centre and the coaches currently provide classes and exercise in a safe environment - and all weather conditions - to all sections of the community, including:
• Over 300 Junior players (starters and improvers)
• Approximately 30 referrals from the mental health team
• Veteran players (ages 50 +)
These are in addition to the regular players and local club sessions at the centre. Family use of the indoor courts was particularly high during the recent snow. We consider SCL’s estimated footfall for 2009 of some 24,500 to be understated.
The projected financial loss of £31,000 has much to do SCL allowing the tennis centre and facilities to become run down, combined with a lack of marketing and follow up to some very successful SBC initiatives. We feel that our operator of choice will be able to turn these figures around – as they have with other community sports services – without detriment to the special discounts and schemes available to local residents.
Considerable support has been voiced by individuals, clubs, sports institutions, local media and on public petitions to keep the tennis centre and return it to its original status as a successful sports development and leisure facility. Further evidence can be seen of this on local media “blogs”, “Facebook” and sites such as www.savesloughtennis.co.uk and www.healthyslough.co.uk .
Besides leisure and tennis coaching, Slough Salt Hill tennis Club regularly competes with other clubs and currently has:
• 3 Men’s Teams
• 2 Ladies teams
• 3 Mixed teams
• 2 Junior Teams
All compete in the name of Slough and are achieving success and promotion in the local tennis leagues.
Our research and experience, combined with the survey recently conducted by SCL, supports our proposal in showing:
1) Tennis is popular in Slough
a. According to SCL consultation 13% Slough population played tennis in last 12 months – this compares with a National average 7%
b. This further suggests that, of those who play regularly (38% of those who play, do so once a month or more), this represents 5% of Slough’s population compared to 2.3% of the national population.
c. Tennis participation in Slough reflects the diversity of the Slough population. (within the confidence limits of the survey)
Ethnic Background of Tennis Centre Customers
This information is taken from SCL user surveys and the 2001 census return. The sample size is noted in brackets.
2005 [100] 2006 [70] 2007 [50] Slough 2001 White 67% 62% 68% 60% Indian 12% 13% 12% 19% Pakistani 8% 20% 8% 11% Black Caribbean 5% 3% 0% 3% Other 8% 2% 12% 7%
2) Tennis is a growing sport – According to the ‘Sport England Active People
Survey’, participation in tennis at least once a month has grown from 2.1% to 2.3% of the UK population 2007-8. The survey also suggests that significant latent demand exists and participation would grow further if access to coaching facilities and clubs occurred. Tennis provides a cost-effective means of encouraging regular participation in sport of at least 3 sessions of 30 minutes per week.
SBC has built a superb sports infrastructure across the Borough and neighbouring areas, much of which is hidden from view. It stretches well beyond the boundaries of SBC funded initiatives and has latent goodwill and support – this provides scope to recruit many local volunteers to assist in promoting the sport about which they are passionate. Much of this is illustrated by the charisma and sporting legacy of our late coach, George Gittens (see appendix)
3) Slough Tennis Centre is well known locally and well used
a. SCL’s survey revealed 64% Slough residents are aware of the tennis
centre b. The centre is well used: 30 000 users per year represent 7, 500 court
hours over 60% of available capacity. During the peak 40 hours per week utilisation is near 80%
c. Nearly 2/3 of tennis centre users live within the Borough of Slough. The facility is therefore well used by local residents not just people living outside the borough.
d. The centre is affordable young people can attend a club session at the centre and receive coaching one to three hours for less than £5; the minimum anticipated spend on a night’s bowling is nearly £10
e. Win Tennis Ltd – our preferred operators - are confident the existing facilities could be run commercially and delivered at zero subsidy to Slough Borough Council, without impacting on price and availability to the local community.
4) Significant demand and interest ex ists in delivering an inclusive tennis
development programme across Slough
a. Schools and Schools Sports Development Teams b. Older players in conjunction with initiatives such as Older People’s
Strategy Groups & Age Concern c. Existing voluntary groups, tennis schemes and initiatives d. Local GPs e. Slough Refugee Centre f. Youth Inclusion Programmes
g. Faith Groups h. Other Slough community projects
We fully expect other needs to arise and to react rapidly and flexibly to them – such as a rise in unemployment creating a new area where tennis and exercise might help.
2 Our Vision
To develop Slough Salt Hill Tennis Club with an indoor and outdoor base at Salt Hill Park as a hub for affordable and inclusive tennis development across Slough which would contribute to the achievement of community strategy priorities at no direct cost to the council.
What we need
1) 7 year rent and rate free lease of Slough Tennis Centre 2) Rent free lease of outdoor courts at Salt Hill Park 3) Rights and SBC support to develop tennis at all ages and levels across Slough 4) Rights to appoint our preferred operator (Win Tennis Ltd) to professionally run
and manage the tennis centre and its services Information about Win Tennis Ltd and supporting documentation are contained in the Appendix to this proposal.
What we wish to explore
1) External Funding to extend the indoor centre to 5-6 courts (this is likely to
require SBC to agree that the centre will be used as a tennis centre for 21 years)
2) External funding to improve outdoor courts (this is likely to require a commitment to maintain the enhanced facility for period of time)
3) Enhancements to non tennis accommodation eg catering facilities and development of the site
4) Outdoor clubhouse with changing and toilet facilities, subject to planning
How we will deliver
Tennis development is about building a sustained and reciprocal relationship with Slough residents and workers. We will not therefore just focus on footfall or “pay your money and go away” activity; we will aim to use our and our experience and our users’ passion for tennis as a means of achieving long term goals which change lives, strengthen the community and support SBC’s community strategy priorities.
1) Community Cohesion- celebrating diversity and enabling inclusion. Tennis is an internationally recognised Olympic sport. It therefore provides an ideal mechanism for informally bringing communities together and welcoming people to Slough.
a. For many years Slough Tennis centre has built a reputation for running friendly, welcoming pay and play facilitated club sessions. These sessions are ideal for new residents new to the town who want to meet new people.
b. The tennis club has built and will further develop strong relationships with Faith Groups across the town
i. Islamic Faith Group
ii. Christian Churches iii. Others
c. We plan to work closely with Slough Refugee Centre, the Mental Health
Team and other SBC community initiatives d. We plan to encourage and use the tremendous goodwill and voluntary
support that the club engenders for the benefit of the community.
Case Study 1.
A was introduced to tennis from the New Horizons Day Centre by the Lead in the Mental Health Team, approximately 6 years ago. A enjoys tennis and it helped with symptoms, weight and overall health. Approximately 3 years ago A encouraged a fellow patient B (in conjunction with the Lead in the Mental Health Team) to play tennis. A supported B, gave him racquets and even paid for his membership of the indoor tennis centre. B benefitted considerably in health and well-being and has now qualified as a coach for children, Adults and other referrals from the Mental Health team. This culminated in an award from the Mayor in 2009 to recognise B’s achievement.
Case Study 2. C moved to Slough in 2007 from Nottingham and found the tennis centre by chance. He had been very active in sports in his youth – playing international football for Nigeria and being on the winning team in a major international competition in Japan in 1977. C was actively involved in revitalising a similar tennis centre in Nottingham when he lived there. He now plays regularly for Slough tennis teams and has volunteered his services to assist as a role-model and mentor for new players from disadvantaged backgrounds. Case Study 3. D & E are young players, who have each played tennis for less than 3 years. Both live within walking distance of the tennis centre. From a standing start, they now compete regularly for Slough against other local clubs, having gained in confidence and developed the discipline and habit for regular exercise.
Outcomes and targets
The profile of users using the tennis centre and engaging in the tennis development programme will continue to mirror the demographics of Slough – this will be tracked by user surveys. The Club will build a network of relationships with Schools development programmes, local clubs, SBC community initiatives, Faith Groups, and voluntary organisations across the town promoting tennis as a pathway to engage in the life of the Town.
2) Community Safety
The home office have identified that engagement in structured sporting activity is a key prevention factor which makes it less likely young people will engage in substance abuse and anti-social activity. Slough has a reputation for developing innovative programmes which have used sport and culture to engage young people at risk of exclusion from education or of engagement in substance abuse in positive activity.
We would wish to build on this record of success by:
a. Building on the existing school tennis initiatives operating out of Langley and Wexham to establish a network of school tennis clubs
b. Exploring the opportunity of working with youth and juvenile justice organisations to develop tennis programmes which will work with at risk young people, providing exit routes that can lead to skills development, pathways to education and employment.
c. To provide structured club sessions which give young people opportunities to develop their talent for tennis
d. Developing after-school activity and homework tennis clubs for local schools
e. Encouraging local businesses to sponsor and support the programmes.
Outcomes and targets
To engage 500 young people directly and indirectly in tennis development programmes by 2012. To build a network of 6 satellite clubs focusing on young people on school sites, with the indoor tennis centre and Win Tennis as a pathway to develop talent to national levels by 2014.
Health and Wellbeing
Tennis is a sport which offers great health benefits. It involves moderate exercise over a sustained period of time. Tennis players also develop a regular participation habit as a result of engaging in training sessions or club play. The social aspects of tennis also have significant mental health benefits and help to build social capital – whilst reducing health inequalities:
f. Through a programme of tennis development work we will increase participation. We will aim to build a network of 1000 regular tennis players in and around Central Slough by 2014
g. We will aim to increase usage of Slough tennis centre to 50 000 visits per year, conditional on gaining permission and SBC support to extend the centre and improving the outdoor courts
h. We will develop a partnership with local GPs to develop a tennis related exercise referral scheme, with particular reference to obesity and diabetes
i. We will build on and extend the existing successful tennis and mental health scheme and other SBC initiatives
j. We will start a local business league for tennis players with emphasis on (off-peak) early morning and lunch-time use of the courts, targeting tenants of Slough Estates and the sports & social clubs of major employers such as Mars & ICI / AKZ Nobel.
Outcomes and targets
We will engage and maintain contact with 1000 Slough residents including Juniors who will play tennis regularly (at least once a month)
We aim to achieve a usage of the tennis centre and satellite clubs equivalent to 50,000 visits by 2012.
3) Social inclusion
Tennis encourages social skills, particularly communication and team-work. The tennis centre has often been the first point of social contact (outside of work) for new arrivals to Slough. We believe that this is a valuable service to the local community that transcends age, social and ethnic barriers. The tennis centre is a sports and leisure facility and we would maintain zero tolerance to alcohol and drugs on the premises.
a. We would work with Win Tennis to maintain the tennis facilities as a warm and welcoming environment
b. We will seek to encourage new arrivals to join in on tennis activities and to develop new friendships within this environment
c. We would seek to recruit coaches suited to and targeted at specific groups
d. We will encourage other players to act as role models for new members
Case Study 4
E came to the Slough area as one of a group of foreign students, seeking to improve her English language skills. She was enrolled into a local college. E regularly played tennis at home and sought out the indoor tennis centre. She attended several club evening sessions and built up lasting friendships with members of all ages.
E is due to return to complete her University education in Italy. However, during her stay, she competed for the club (and Slough) and won the club’s individual championship in 2008/9!
Case Study 5
F is a student who has come to Slough for 1 year’s work-experience with a well-known local employer. He is an established tennis player, who chose to play at Slough Indoor tennis centre because of the warm & friendly reception he received. His ability is such that several private clubs would be willing to offer him free membership if he chose to ask. F regularly attends the Saturday evening club match-play sessions and helps to encourage other players.
Outcomes and network targets
In conjunction with Win Tennis, we aim to become the first choice of venue for new and established players to visit to play tennis in Slough, through player experience and personal recommendation. 4) Environment
We believe sympathetic sporting use of parks and green spaces adds value to environmental impact and reduces vandalism. We would want to develop well managed outdoor tennis programmes at Salt Hill Park and other park locations in Slough and would work with SBC to run a programme of events at these locations
a. We would work with SBC and Win Tennis to attract external investment to upgrade outdoor tennis facilities at Salt Hill Park and explore opportunities to provide club accommodation to support the outdoor courts
b. We would run a managed programme of coaching courses on the outdoor courts
c. We would aim to establish a network of neighbourhood satellite clubs across the town reducing need to drive to a central location or transport young people to tennis sessions
d. We will work with the Parks Team and other neighbours to help to reduce the perception of local crime, improve the park’s image and achieve green flag status for Salt Hill Park.
Outcomes and networks
a. To attract investment for outdoor courts at Salt Hill Park before 2012 b. To develop network of 6 Satellite clubs by 2014 c. To consult with the Police and Parks Team on improvements and
developments of the tennis facilities
5) Economy and Skills
Tennis is a sport which can transform lives. Engagement in tennis itself engenders the development of skills that are of value in the workplace. Participation can also directly open up training and career opportunities. Several tennis club members have gone on to study sport related courses at college and university; others have gained employment through coaching or other tennis related activity.
a. We will explore opportunities to build on success of the sport exclusion scheme building pathways to employment for young people not in education employment or training through engagement in sport.
b. We will work to support club members wishing to develop coaching skills or pursue careers in sport
c. We will explore opportunity to develop mentoring scheme for young people wanting to develop careers in sport.
7 GCSEs
A-C Grade
(2 years)
BTEC National
Diploma in Sport
= 3 ‘A’ Levels ( 2 years)
Advanced Apprenticeship in
Sporting Excellence (AASE)
(2 years)
Top 50/100
ITF Ranking
American U
niversity
- 100%
Scholarship
Potential Careers
In Win Tennis –
Coaching,
Management,
Administration
Win Tennis Career Pathway
Other Career
Opportunities in Sport -
Agent, PR,
Marketing, NGB
Case Study 6
G learnt tennis and regularly played at the indoor tennis centre. G was recognised as a gifted and talented player and sponsored by a well-known charitable foundation to develop her skills. G has now chosen to follow a career in sports and is studying at University, while still coaching youngsters and competing at a high level for Slough in local competitions.
Outcomes and targets
We would help to develop 5 new coaches per year from 2012 We would develop opportunities for 50 young people to receive sport related training We would anticipate 10 young people per year in our network would progress to study sport related subjects in FE or HE.
6) Sport Development and 2012
We believe tennis is a great sport in its own right. We therefore want to encourage as many people as possible to play tennis and provide pathways for those with talent to fulfil their potential. We also believe that a wide range of good quality sports development pathways in a range of sports will help improve quality of life in Slough and enhance the town’s reputation as a good place to live.
a. We would use our network of satellite clubs to build participation across Slough and within Slough schools
b. We would work with Win Tennis to establish and develop a Slough Tennis Academy
c. We would work with other sports clubs in Slough to build a range of high quality sport specific pathways available to Slough residents
Outcomes and targets
We will develop a participation base of 1000 players including Juniors by 2012 We target that 10 players will regularly play representative tennis at county level or above by 2014
3 Conclusion
The Indoor Tennis Centre is a valuable hub to sport and the local community. It can be run at no loss to SBC and should be used as a platform to extend local services.
Slough Salt Hill Tennis Club proposes:
• To take over the lease of the Slough Indoor Tennis Centre and the outdoor Courts in Salt Hill Park and to appoint Win Tennis Ltd as it’s Operator of Preference to run the facilities
• To run the Centre at no cost or financial risk to SBC
• To develop programmes of inclusive tennis and associated sports using the facilities as a hub and pathway to excellence
• To work closely with SBC – particularly the Strategic Director & Staff, Community & Wellbeing - to ensure that the leisure and sports development activities are in harmony with SBC initiatives and targets
• To seek to extend the facilities at Salt Hill Park, using external funding and at no risk to SBC
This proposal has been developed in a short period of time. The authors and contributors will be happy to answer questions and provide further information on request:
James Fawcett - [email protected] - 07836 324613
Charles Freeman – [email protected] – 07970 822380
Mike Walker – [email protected] – 01628 481195
Joanne Skinner – [email protected] – 01628 481195
Appendices – Win Tennis
1 Brief history of Win Tennis, management team, programmes, success stories,
benefits, SWOT analysis, references
2 Organisation chart
3 Operations structure
4 Co-operative structure
5 Win @ Westway pathway for Slough
6 Slough Express. 14 June 2009. Slough’s inspirational coach George Gittens dies
1 Brief History of Win Tennis
Win Tennis Ltd will operate both indoor and outdoor tennis operations on the
site.
Win Tennis Limited was formed in September 2005 as part of a re-branding and
expansion of Mike Walker’s well established tennis academies, Walker
International Tennis. Win Tennis specialises in the delivery of high performance
and professional tennis operations and would maintain the contract to deliver the
academy and commercial tennis services. Win Tennis is a ‘not for profit’
organisation, with all profits ploughed back into the company for the
development of British Tennis.
Win Tennis was founded to meet a variety of demands in the sport of tennis.
The world market now insists on total professionalism and accountability. Win
Tennis offers quality tennis training services which reflect this. Win Tennis is
committed to providing quality tennis training for all. By working closely with the
local community, Win Tennis will search for future champions and fast track
these players on the winning pathway. The aim is to help players maximise their
potential.
The winning of the Olympic bid for 2012 has revitalised the public’s hunger for
champions, and the ambition to see successful British winners has never been
higher.
The objective of Win Tennis is to offer tennis academy services that will attract
players ranging from those who have never before played tennis to those who
are currently world ranked or on the verge of breaking into the world rankings.
At the highest level Win Tennis aspires to occupy a position at the head of British
Performance Tennis establishments.
We currently support performance and development programmes over a range
of centres throughout the UK & Europe. This allows our players, across a range
of age groups, access to top coaches and advice on their individual long term
programmes.
Win Tennis (Win) motivates and develops young talent to the highest standards
and works alongside the existing national & international structures. We utilise
and support LTA initiatives and also work with, and supplement, local club
programmes.
Tennis for all is a key issue for the future and providing training programmes for
all sections of the local community is a priority.
Win currently operate four programmes in the UK, Win Bisham Abbey (National
Sports Centre), Win Tennis at Bucks Indoor Tennis Centre, Win Westway and the
Graves Tennis Centre, Sheffield. In August 2008 Win Tennis Bisham Abbey were
awarded LTA International High Performance Centre status, one of only two in
the country. Win Westway is an LTA High Performance Centre; Win also operates
a full-time academy in Spain at the Puente Romano Tennis Club in Marbella, and
has close links with the Maltese Tennis Federation.
Win Tennis is withdrawing from the Bucks Indoor Tennis Centre, which is an LTA
accredited Satellite Centre. The intention is to relocate this function to Slough to
run in conjunction with the existing commitments.
Win is an internationally renowned tennis organisation, working in liaison with
the LTA, ITF and Tennis Europe. Our high performance tennis academies are
dedicated to coaching and nurturing young, aspiring tennis players.
Win has 72 European & World-ranked players, 19 LTA matrix players and 3
TEAM AEGON players.
Recent successes include winning the TEAM AEGON Team Tennis event in the
U14 boys category, 2 national champions and 10 titles at international level.
Management Team
Mike Walker – Chief Executive & Director of Tennis
Mike directs the Win Tennis Academies throughout the UK & Europe. He is also
currently developing the Win Tennis vision for the future. However, Mike
continues his on-court coaching role upon which his reputation has been built.
Mike has worked very closely for many years with the LTA, Sport England, the
English Institute of Sport, the British Olympic Association and the International
Tennis Federation. Mike also built up strong relationships with many influential
people in sport and outside of sport including David Cameron & Baroness
Billingham.
Former World Ranked Player
Former Davis Cup Player Played Wimbledon three years
Former LTA National Training Senior Manager Trained more than 100 world ranked tennis players Obtained over £1.3million in grant facility funding from National Governing Bodies in the last 5 years
Former Director of Hong Kong Tennis
Davis Cup Captain Television Commentator for Asian TV & Sky Sports
His ethos of hard work, discipline and professionalism is a proven recipe for
success. Producing quality, honest, talented players with a strong work ethic is
the aim.
Andrew McKenzie-James – Director of Finance & Special Projects
Andrew was the chairman of Clive Merchant Limited. Prior to 2005, when he
joined Win Tennis, he was based in Tampa, Florida and controlled US
operations.
His business experience has been gained over a 33 year period, initially in
the Royal Marines, followed by organizations in industries as diverse as
healthcare, custodial services and government agencies.
He is a founder director of a public sector Institute, ICM, an organization that is
dedicated to staff safety. Andrew provided consultancy to many of the world’s
airlines as they compiled policies and action plans to combat the in-flight
challenges of ‘Air Rage’. He has sat on HSE interdepartmental committees
and NICE clinical guideline groups and is the author of several publications and
policy framework documents.
He has gained much experience of the tennis and sporting industries during
the last three years and has worked closely with the LTA and Sport England
at the highest level.
His role is to drive the business development, and direct the finance and
administration of the Win companies.
Mark Cox MBE
Mark is a former professional tennis player who at his peak was ranked number
13 in the world and British number 1. After playing extensively in the Davis Cup,
Mark went into coaching and had a number of successes, including with the
Canadian Davis Cup team. Mark has also been a regular commentator for both
TV viewers and radio listeners at many of the major tennis events in recent
years and his contribution to the sport has been recognised with an MBE.
Paul Caddick – Chairman, Caddick Developments
Having started out as a site engineer in 1966, Paul Caddick went onto gain a
degree in civil engineering at Sheffield Hallam University in 1974.
After qualifying as a Chartered Civil and Municipal Engineer, he subsequently
worked for the West Yorkshire County Council Engineers Department and John
Laing before establishing his own civil engineering contracting company in 1980.
Under his leadership, the business rapidly expanded into building, design build,
development and property, with significant achievements including the
development of the first major business park in Yorkshire, Wakefield 41 Business
Park.
Today, Paul retains a hands-on role at Caddick Developments.
Paul is also the owner of Headingly Stadium and Leeds Rugby Ltd, creating the
world’s first dual code rugby partnership with Leeds RUFC joining forces with
Leeds Rhinos.
Myles Hartley – Director, Caddick Developments
Myles graduated from Sheffield polytechnic in 1991 with a degree in Urban Land
Economics. He subsequently joined Weatherall Green & Smith in Leeds as a
graduate, undertaking all aspects of Agency and General Practice work.
In 1997 Myles joined the Caddick Group and now, as a Director, is responsible
for sourcing and delivering a wide range of schemes in the office, industrial and
mixed-use sectors throughout the North of England.
Our Partners
Lawn Tennis Association
Sport England
International Tennis Federation
Tennis Europe
Prince
Leisure Connection
Westway Development Trust
Sheffield City Council
Chesterfield Lawn Tennis Club
Caddick Developments
Maltese Tennis Federation
Programmes
Win Tennis Programme aims:
To make the centre a viable business through delivering an excellent tennis
programme and using efficient practices for operating the centre.
To direct the development of a full range of coaching programmes with the
objective of creating a centre of tennis excellence.
To continue to provide local employment for coaching staff.
To provide a comprehensive performance pathways for tennis players to achieve
high performance and personal excellence.
To establish and nurture Mini Tennis and encourage young players to begin to
play tennis and offer them a performance pathway at an early stage in their
development.
To develop and maintain strong links with local schools, clubs and communities
to aid with the development of tennis at grass roots level.
To develop relevant programmes to accommodate and promote excellence in all
groups, including those disadvantaged by physical or mental disabilities.
To develop strong links with local tennis clubs, particularly Slough Salt Hill
Tennis Club, to promote a performance pathway for adults, making coaches
available, providing tournaments, both local and national and developing league
participation.
To maintain and support Community Access and the current sports incentives in
Slough Tennis (such as the Slough Card) and to recognise and co-ordinate with
other Slough health and sports initiatives.
To achieve LTA Clubmark accreditation.
Win Tennis current tennis programmes include the following:
Development / commercial tennis
Junior Starter Academy Groups
Mini Tots Tennis I & II
Mini Tots introduces the co-ordination and movement skills for tennis
Mini Tots I is for children aged 3 - 4 years who are just starting lessons
Mini Tots II is for children aged 4 - 5 who have already had some coaching
Mini Tennis Red I & II
MT Red I is for children aged 5 - 6 & MT Red II is for children aged 6 - 8
MT Red is played on a small court with small rackets and foam balls
Includes co-ordination, racket & ball skills & introduces basic techniques
Mini Tennis Orange I & II
MT Orange I is for children aged 7 - 9 and MT Orange II is for 8 – 10’s
Mini Tennis Orange is played with a low compression ball on a 3/4 court
Mini Tennis Orange includes further development of basic techniques
Mini Tennis Green I & II
Aimed at 8 - 12 year olds and played with mid compression green balls
Mini Tennis Green is played on a full court with a low bouncing ball
Starter Academy 1
Aimed at children aged 10 - 14 and played with a standard tennis ball
Young Gun introduces tennis on a full court with a normal tennis ball
Starter Academy 2
Aimed at players aged 11 - 15 years
Starts to develop the more advanced techniques including the use of spin
Starter Academy 3
Aimed at players aged 12 - 16 years
Includes a greater element of matchplay with both singles and doubles
Starter Academy 4
Aimed at players aged 13 - 17 years
Includes the use of advanced techniques and tactics for use in matchplay
Adult Tennis Academy
The Adult Tennis Academy provides evening coaching courses in an 8-week
block. There is a maximum of 8 players of a similar standard in each group.
Adult Beginner
Adult Beginner is aimed at players that are just starting or just recently started to play tennis. The course introduces the main strokes and basic tactics for
tennis.
Adult Improver
Adult Improver is aimed at players that have already received basic coaching or
are returning to tennis after time away from the game. The course includes
further development of techniques and tactics and the application of spin and
use of grips.
Adult Intermediate
Aimed at players that are likely to play tennis in a club or social group. The
course includes the development of more advance tactics and techniques.
Women's Daytime Coaching
These sessions provide expert coaching in an informal atmosphere for women
that want to learn basic techniques and tactics. The sessions include the
opportunity for matchplay, and there is no need to re-book - just turn up and
pay on the day
Women's Intermediate Coaching
This session is for ladies that are likely to have played club level tennis and are
looking for more advanced tuition. Pre-booking is not necessary.
Women's Recreational Tennis
These sessions are held twice a week and provide the opportunity for women to
meet socially and enjoy a great value session.
50+ Tennis
These sessions are held twice a week for the more mature player. It provides
the opportunity to play in a social environment with a coach on hand to organise
the session.
Individual Lessons
Individual coaching is a great way of improving your standard of tennis whether
you are an adult player or just starting to play the game or a club player that is trying to improve their level of performance. Individual lessons are available
during the day and on evenings and weekends.
Academy / Performance Tennis
Full-time academy programme
A typical day includes:
Up to 4 hours of tennis training with LTA qualified & licensed coaches Comprehensive physical training programme
Additional services include:
Tournament scheduling & planning Tournament attendance by coaches Goal setting
Education
Sports psychology profiling & analysis Nutrition & lifestyle advice
Musculoskeletal / medical screening
Academy players also have the opportunity to take part in the LTA AASE
Scheme.
AASE is for players aged 16 to 18 who are seeking a future career in tennis. It
combines education, training and gaining coaching and tennis qualifications.
The AASE scheme offers an extensive enrichment programme for players by offering access to key speakers, educational resources, day tournament visits
and providing access to coaching qualifications.
At Bisham Abbey Win Tennis also offers an education programme for those who wish to continue with their studies.
Current numbers in Win Tennis programmes
Bisham Abbey
Full-time Academy players 46
Academy access players 20
Performance squad players 47
Regular mini tennis players 67
Teams entered into Team Tennis 6
Westway Tennis Centre
Full-time Academy players 6
Academy access players 5
Performance squad players 96
Regular mini tennis players 168
Mini tennis pay & play 100
Schools programme 310
Graves Tennis & Leisure Centre
Annual usage of the centre 315,000
Full-time Academy players 4
Academy access players 10
Performance squad players 53
Regular mini tennis players 350
Regularly competing juniors 77
Number of school club links 10
Players on disability programmes 7
Teams entered into Team Tennis 13
Exit routes for Win Tennis players
Professional Tennis National Tennis Centre County selection
American University scholarship British University
Coaching within Win Tennis Coaching jobs at other clubs
Win Tennis success stories
AEGON Awards
There are three categories in the AEGON Awards: Player of the Month, Junior
Player of the Month and Coach of the Month.
The Player and Junior Player Awards are selected by the performance board in
the Player Team meeting at the National Tennis Centre. The performance board
decide this from nominations given by top LTA national coaches, taking into
consideration a combination of ranking improvements, outstanding performance
and significant results.
The Coach of the Month is selected by the Head of Coaching and his team from
the nominations put forward by LTA Licensed coaches. The winning coach being
deemed to have had the greatest impact on British Tennis in the previous
month.
Each month the winners will be added to the AEGON Roll of Honour and one of
the winners will be featured exclusively in the British Tennis Members' area of
the LTA website.
In August the Junior Player Award went to Kyle Edmund and in November to
Lucy Brown
Kyle Edmund – Junior Player of the Month
Edmund showed his international pedigree at the end of July by reaching the
final at the 14&U European Junior Championships in Plzen, Czech Republic. The
Yorkshire player also partnered Luke Bambridge to reach the doubles semi-final.
Edmund then returned home to compete at the 14&U AEGON British Junior
National Championships in Bournemouth where he found himself on the opposite
side of the net to Bambridge in the final, eventually winning 6-1 4-6 6-4 to lift
the trophy. However, Bambridge gained revenge in the doubles by teaming up
with Chris Pearce to defeat Edmund and Billy Harris in the final.
“When I was a set and 4-0 up it looked like it was going to be easier than I
thought it would be, but Luke is a fantastic competitor and he just wouldn’t say
die. I must have just lost concentration and even I was thinking that I didn’t
know what to do,” said Edmund about his win over Bambridge.
“Eventually in the third set I managed to get a couple of games and get my
rhythm again. That’s often the equation that the quality of tennis steps up in the
deciding set of a final and that was certainly the case here, but I’m just really
pleased to have come out on top.”
Lucy Brown - Junior Player of the Month
Lucy Brown wins the AEGON Junior Player of
the Month for November after an impressive performance in the Grade 2 Junior
Championships in Thailand, in which she finished runner-up.
After entering the event as a qualifier, the
British Junior No.6 gained impressive victories against a number of higher ranked rivals including the ITF Junior No.34, followed
by a straight sets semi-finals victory over ITF Junior No.6 Miyabi Inoue (JPN).
The 16 year-old also secured a career high ranking of 134 at the start of November and now holds an ITF Junior ranking of 139.
Benefits of Win
Tennis operator with a track record in performance and close links with
the local community, LTA, Sport England and the local authority. Facility to be upgraded and continually used as a tournament venue for
national & international competition, including wheelchair events Would prevent possible loss of facility to other sports / activities
Win Tennis programmes / developments all aim to be in line with Sport
England’s focus of ‘Grow, Sustain, Excel’.
Grow – introducing more children into the game of tennis through a
comprehensive schools and mini tennis programme.
Sustain – by offering a high quality experience for all users of the site, we would
endeavour to ensure more people are satisfied with their sporting experience.
Target programmes for 16 – 18 year olds, i.e. LTA AASE scheme to prevent
players dropping out from tennis at this age.
Excel – aiming for LTA HPC status, with a focus on identifying talented players to
progress through the performance pathway.
Risk Management
SWOT Analysis
Strengths
Win has the following strengths:
Support from the local Council; External funding support to develop the facilities and services at no risk to the Council;
No similar and accessible sites with the variety of facilities and services in the vicinity;
Large and affluent local customer base; Ability to relocate existing players and staff to the site; Ability to raise the sports profile of Slough in Tennis;
Experience of working with players from diverse backgrounds; Revenue streams from a range of sporting activities to help protect
against fluctuations in turnover due to seasonality of specific sports falling out of favour; A proven business model for the tennis centre of excellence;
An excellent brand name; A management team with a mix of financial, business and sporting
backgrounds; The continued involvement of celebrated former world ranked players and ambassadors of tennis. Including, Mark Cox, MBE; Roger Taylor and
Andrew Castle;
Weaknesses:
The following weaknesses have been identified:
Win do not currently have any property assets; Areas of the current site require upgrading; As with all new leisure facilities, it may take time to build up user
numbers; Service agreements with regards to community access will be compulsory.
Opportunities
Win has the following opportunities:
The tennis academy at Bisham Abbey is currently significantly over subscribed. The opportunity to use Slough as a feeder academy exists,
which will increase the income and reputation of the site; In the build up and occurrence of the London 2012 Olympics, Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and a potential 2018 World Cup bid, it is
likely that the UK population will increase their level of sporting activity. Other potential opportunities relating to the 2012 Games;
The continued rise of Andy Murray & Laura Robson and initiatives by the LTA are forecast to increase the number of tennis participants over the next 10 years;
The increasing awareness of health, fitness and lifestyle issues may encourage more people to access the site, particularly families;
Threats
The following threats have been identified:
It is unclear whether the ageing population, and the popularity of video
games, and the spectator ethos may curtail sport and fitness industries; Few barriers to entry so one of the large national fitness centres or tennis
clubs could open up locally, i.e. David Lloyd; Present financial climate.
References
I am writing this letter to state that the LTA are working with Win Tennis in a
number of locations around the country.
Win Tennis are working with British Tennis to grow the game and helping the
British Tennis achieve the target of getting a 150,000 more people playing
tennis once a week.
Win Tennis have also established an International High Performance centre at
Bisham Abbey to develop and provide coaching for talented children with the aim
of getting more players in the top 100. Win Tennis is committed to increase the
number of local juniors able to compete, enjoy and experience the game of
tennis in line with LTA Blueprint objectives.
I hope that this letter is what is required but if you need any further information
then please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kind Regards,
Roger Draper
Chief Executive, LTA
Westway/Win Tennis Partnership
The partnership between Win Tennis and Westway is proving very successful and
the Centre is developing a stronger reputation, from mini tennis through to elite
performance. Win Tennis became involved in September 2008 to assist in the
improvement of the High Performance and Development programmes, and has
successfully expanded the community programme. It has ensured that we are
able to take tennis to all sections of our diverse community, and has given even
more kids and adults the opportunity to get involved and participate in a sport
that they may not necessarily have considered previously.
Mark Devlin
Chief Executive, Westway Sports Centre
Mike, just wanted to say how encouraged I was to hear that Win Tennis may be
looking at taking over the running of the Slough Indoor Tennis Centre. As you
know we have been trying to find a solution to the proposal to turn the indoor
centre into a bowling centre, and so lose yet another indoor tennis facility, which
would be very disappointing.
Having now been in discussions with you regarding your other tennis operations
and how your teams can add to the community tennis offer in these areas, I
would be delighted if we could continue our plans in Slough, where your
coaching team would enhance the limited delivery already in place. The potential
in Slough is great with plenty of public tennis courts in the borough which need a
hub and the tennis centre would provide that if Win Tennis were to take over the
site and the delivery across the borough.
Please keep me in the picture as to developments.
Sue Mappin
Executive Direct, Tennis Foundation
Development, Environment & Leisure
Culture: Business Development
Head of Business Development : David Macpherson
Central Library, Surrey Street, Sheffield, S1 1XZ
tel: 0114 2053149 fax: 0114 2735009
e-mail: [email protected]
Our Ref: DM/win/graves
Mike Walker
Chief Executive
Win Tennis Limited
Dear Mike
Letter of support re Slough Indoor Tennis Centre
Further to our conversation yesterday in which you asked for a letter of support re your potential involvement in Slough Indoor Tennis Centre, I have no hesitation in doing so.
Your involvement with Sheffield at the Graves Tennis and Leisure Centre in terms of the tennis development scheme has breathed new life into what was already a successful operation. The expertise that you have brought has not only improved the coaching and programming within the centre but has also improved the utilisation of the courts and attracted additional players to come and train at Graves. The spin off is that the staff can see that in terms of their own careers there are advantages of being attached to your scheme and the customers are more satisfied with both the development scheme and with the overall operation.
I would recommend you to the funders of Slough Indoor Tennis Centre, they would be gaining a partner who has enthusiasm, drive and the ability to take operation to the next level.
Yours sincerely
David Macpherson, Head of Business Development
2 WIN TENNIS ORGANISATION CHART – ADMINISTRATION / OPERATIONS
Director of Finance/Special Projects –
Andrew McKenzie-James
CEO/Director of Tennis – Mike Walker
General Manager – Joanne
Skinner
PA to CEO – Trish
Pancho
Operations
Manager
North –
Joanne
Education
Coordinator –
Eric Angus
Head
Coach –
KS2 / 3 – Terry
Smith
KS4 / A Level
Maths – Rupinder
Dhillon
Operations
Manager South
– Joanne
Skinner
Administrator – Rachael
Cooper
Receptionist – Marie
Andrews
Receptionist – Bizhan Rodd
Receptionist – Maureen
Rowley
Receptionist – Louise
Edwards
Receptionist – Roy Sawyer
Receptionist – Sarah
Hodges
Security – Larry Clements
Accounts
Assistant
/Bookkeeper
– Laura Maier
Ambassador
– Andrew
Castle
HR – Right
Hand HR
3 OPERATIONS STRUCTURE
OPERATIONS
MANAGER
ADMIN
DIRECTOR
(CHIEF EXEC)
Mike
Walker
PERSONAL
ASSISTANT
OPERATIONS
MANAGER
FINANCE
DIRECTOR
(FINANCE)
Andrew
McKenzie-James
SPAINWESTWAYBISHAM
ABBEY
CHESTER-
FIELDSHEFFIELD MALTA BUCKS
AMJ
FB
AK
OH
MW
RC
MT
TG
MT
BP
JB
MFJB
PH
CTR STAFF 14
PLAYERS 129
CTR STAFF 3
PLAYERS 12
CTR STAFF 3
NAT PROG 25
CTR STAFF 11
PLAYERS 190CTR STAFF 22
PLAYERS 65
CTR STAFF 13
PLAYERS 459
CTR STAFF 4
PLAYERS 130
OPERATIONS
MANAGER
TENNIS
OPERATIONS
MANAGER
TENNIS HOLS/
COMMERCIAL
4 CO-OPERATIVE STRUCTURE
HR Team
Right Hand
DIRECTOR
(CHIEF EXEC)
Mike
Walker
Mktg/PR
KTB
Bank
Barclays
DIRECTOR
(FINANCE)
Andrew
McKenzie-James
SHEFFIELD
COUNCIL
LAWN
TENNIS
ASSOCIATION
MALTA
TENNIS
FEDERATION
PRINCELEISURE
CONNECTIONSPORT
ENGLAND
CHESTERFIELD
TENNIS
CLUB
NORTON
COLLEGE
LTA/
TENNIS
FOUNDATION
CHARTERS
SCHOOL
BUCKS
LTDPUENTE
ROMANO
KTB
WIN TENNIS
AMBASSADORS
Mark Cox
Andrew Castle
Solicitors
Spratt
Endicott
Accountant
Christopher
Lunn & Co
Architect
Jenkins
Design
PARTNERS
CADDICK
DEVELOPMENTS
5 Win @ Westway pathway for Slough
6 Slough Express. 14 June 2009
Slough’s inspirational coach George Gittens dies
AN INSPIRATIONAL sports coach, who trained 2,000 youngsters in Slough and
Maidenhead, has died. Mourners paid their final farewell to George Gittens on Monday during his
funeral. The church in Church Street, Slough was packed with 700 loved-ones many whom he
trained during his 20-year career as a tennis and cricket coach.
Wife Lora said: 'He was an inspiration to thousands of people. I"ve had parents turning up at my
doorstep thanking us because he used sport to turn their children"s lives around. If a child couldn"t
get to a lesson then he"d pick them up and go beyond the call of duty because he was so generous
with his time.
'He was a healthy man but died suddenly. His death is a huge loss to sports. We were planning on
going away for our 25th wedding anniversary in August. I"m heartbroken but I"m getting through it
with the support of my family and all who loved George.'
Mr Gittens, who is buried at Slough Crematorium, juggled coaching with his job as a IT support
system analyst in London. The former William Penn School governor trained youngsters at schools,
Slough Tennis Centre and Slough Cricket Club and recently branched out to coach under 13s at
Maidenhead and Bray Cricket Club.
The borough"s sporting community has been in shock since 57-year-old, of Manor Park, died
following a heart attack at his home on Wednesday, May 20. The family have set up an online
memorial page "in his honour, a great man who has inspired many people and left a
big space in all our hearts."
Former Windsor Cricket Club and Berkshire player Waqas Mohammed, 24, said: 'He had a lot of
passion for developing young people and certainly brought the best out of me in every aspect of
cricket.'
Adeeba Manaf, 24 added: 'He was a great individual. I played as a team captain for under 21"s
women cricket team at Baylis Court School 10 years ago and he gave up alot of his own valuable
time evenings to help us achieve our goals.'
Ex-student Gurjit Buham added: "George made me realise that you can waste your life or make
something of it. He also changed my philosophy of what I thought the world was. Due to George I
have met people I would otherwise never have known. I now look at others and try to decipher what
I can do to help as opposed to just judging their situation. If George didnt take that approach with
me God knows where I would have ended up."