It’s game, set and match for a tennis club in Cardiff, thanks to a Community Chest grant from the Sports Council for Wales.

As Wimbledon comes to a close for 2009, Diamond Tennis Academy in Heath Park has successfully secured £1000 of National Lottery funding to plough into improving facilities and coaching for budding players in Cardiff.

New coaches will be trained up to deliver their ever expanding coaching programme, which involves taking tennis into local schools – all in a bid to get more children on the court and enjoying the sport.

Sena Tengey, Head Coach at the club, comments:

"Sporting events such as Wimbledon work wonders in encouraging people to pick up a tennis racquet, the challenge for community clubs like Diamond Tennis Academy, is to ensure that the numbers of people taking part don’t drop-off once the competition ends."

Sena continues:

"Community Chest funding will allow us to create opportunities to keep youngsters interested in playing tennis and will help ensure that, through quality coaching, we develop both the club and the players."

Since the inception of the Sports Council for Wales’ Community Chest scheme in 1999, communities across the length and breadth of Wales have been investing heavily in sports and physical activity projects.

As a result of the popularity and undoubted success of the scheme, the Sports Council for Wales is raising the level of grant. Organisations keen to develop sport & physical activity in Wales can now receive up to £1000 for a qualifying project over a 12 month period.

The scope of the scheme has also been widened. Grants have traditionally been awarded to sports clubs and sporting bodies. Now most organisations seeking to develop physical activity and sporting projects will be eligible for an award.

The Community Chest has recently been infiltrating additional areas of work such as the voluntary sector (e.g. Voluntary Youth Clubs, Women’s Institute) and the workplace, as well as continuing to support projects in the health and education arenas. So while funding the local football club might get the younger members of the community moving, backing a walking group will encourage more adults to get active.

To remove the obstacles and to get your project going, call your Sports Council for Wales regional office:

South East Wales: 0845 045 0904

South West Wales: 0845 045 0906

North Wales: 0845 045 0908

Or visit www.sports-council-wales.org.uk

Diamond Tennis Academy will be holding an Open Day on 11^th July, more information on the day and on their coaching programmes can be found on their website www.diamondtennisacademy.co.uk