Medical company Panacea Pharma Projects (PPP) has come up with an 'ace idea' to encourage more children to take up tennis.
The company is donating ?15,000 to Albany Tennis Club over the next three years to fund its Mini Tennis Programme which encourages youngsters to play the sport.
Mini Tennis is played on smaller courts using softer tennis balls and shorter racquets, which make it easier for children to play; the emphasis is on having fun while learning new skills. The scheme has proved popular at Albany and currently has 65 children on its Mini Tennis scheme.
Steve Proudlove, head of Pharmacovigilance at PPP, handed over a cheque for ?5,000 to Albany Tennis Club president Bryan Sharp to cover the first year of the Mini Tennis sponsorship deal.
"We are delighted to be able to fund the excellent Mini Tennis Programme so that its fantastic work can continue for future years,” said Mr Proudlove.
"The coaches at the Albany Tennis Club do such a good job and that is reflected by the impressive levels of participation in what is still seen by many as a niche sport.
"We hope that our sponsorship will enable the numbers of youngsters getting involved in the sport to grow even further and raise the profile of tennis on the Island."
Children on the Mini Tennis Programme receive tuition from respected club coach Colin Hanbidge. He spent many years coaching in Scotland where his former pupils included Wimbledon star Andy Murray and the recently appointed British Davis Cup team captain Leon Smith.
Albany Tennis Club Chairman Mark O’Dwyer said that the club was delighted to receive the support from Panacea Pharma Projects.
"With its help Albany can continue to ensure that we provide the correct level of coaching for children who wish to learn to play tennis.
"Through its sponsorship, PPP can make a real difference helping clubs such as Albany get the foundation blocks in place during the early years of tennis before children move to the next level.
"We would like to thank PPP for its support of this very important programme."
PPP is a specialist in pharmacovigilance and works for pharmaceutical companies to detect and assess any safety concerns which may relate to prescription drugs.
Children aged 5 - 8 are welcome to join the programme, which is now underway. More details can be found at www.albanyltc.co.uk
Pictueed: Steve Proudlove, head of Pharmacovigilance at PPP, with talented young players who have benefitted from the Mini Tennis Programme at Albany Tennis Club. The youngsters are (standing, l-r) Max Walker, Callum Bratty, Sidney Batty, Harry Walters and Oscar Cruz-O’Dwyer; (seated, l-r) Hugo Cruz-O’Dwyer and Zac Walker. Also pictured are, centre, Albany Tennis Club president Bryan Sharp and, right, club coach Colin Hanbidge.
