ELENA BALTACHA FOUNDATION LOOKS AHEAD TO AN EXCITING NEW SCHOOL YEAR
Posted 21st Aug
As the new school year approaches, there is a real sense of excitement across the Elena Baltacha Foundation as the team prepares to return to schools and continue its commitment to inspiring the next generation through tennis.
The Foundation’s school network has continued to grow, with established programmes across London and Suffolk, and an exciting expansion now taking place into Exeter and Sussex. With more schools, more pupils, and more opportunities to introduce children to tennis, the Foundation is looking forward to making an even greater impact during the year ahead.
At the heart of the Foundation’s work is a simple belief: tennis can play a hugely positive role in the lives of young people, both on and off the court.
The Foundation is committed to playing its part in increasing tennis participation among children and supporting the wider ambitions of the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) to make tennis more accessible, welcoming and engaging for people of all ages and backgrounds.
For many primary school children, a school tennis session can be their first meaningful introduction to the sport.
The Foundation’s programmes are designed to make that first experience positive, energetic, and memorable. Sessions incorporate a combination of physical fitness, tennis skills, movement activities and fun drills, helping children develop fundamental sporting abilities while discovering the enjoyment of playing tennis.
Tennis provides an excellent platform for developing a wide range of physical skills, including coordination, balance, agility, speed, reaction, and movement. It also encourages children to develop concentration, decision-making, and perseverance.
Perhaps most importantly, tennis can help children develop a positive relationship with physical activity from an early age.
The Foundation is particularly committed to ensuring that these opportunities reach schools and communities where children may have fewer opportunities to access organised sporting activities outside of school. By bringing tennis directly into the school environment, the Foundation can help remove some of the barriers that can prevent young people from discovering the sport.
While tennis is at the centre of the programme, the Foundation’s school sessions are about much more than learning how to hit a tennis ball.
Positive messaging remains an important part of every session, encouraging pupils to think about qualities such as confidence, resilience, determination, teamwork, and having a positive attitude.
The team also continues to incorporate physical fitness activities alongside tennis skills and drills. This creates an engaging environment in which children are constantly moving, learning and developing.
The objective is to ensure that pupils leave a session not only having enjoyed themselves but also having taken something positive away from the experience, whether that is a new tennis skill, a greater understanding of physical fitness, increased confidence, or simply the desire to become more active.
The Foundation’s expanding school programme is supported by a passionate coaching team.
Gareth Richman, Val Turner, and Penny Moor will continue to play key roles in delivering the Foundation’s programmes, bringing their experience, enthusiasm, and commitment to schools across the network.
The Foundation is also delighted to welcome Jimmy Smith, who will join the coaching team and take responsibility for delivering programmes across the Sussex area.
His arrival represents another important step in the Foundation’s continued expansion and will enable the organisation to reach more schools and introduce more children to the benefits of tennis.
Our coaches said:
Gareth Richman
“I’m really looking forward to getting back into schools and inspiring another generation. For many children, that first tennis experience can be the beginning of something special.”
Val Turner
“Every new school year brings fresh opportunities to make a difference. I love watching children pick up a racket, have fun, learn new skills, and discover tennis.”
Penny Moor
“Returning to schools for the new academic year is incredibly exciting. Helping primary children discover tennis, build confidence, and experience the joy of sport is hugely rewarding.”
Jimmy Smith
“The new school year brings another opportunity to introduce children to tennis. Seeing their excitement, energy, and smiles on court makes every session incredibly worthwhile.”
The Foundation believes it is important to recognise the contribution made by every school involved in the programme.
As part of the initiative, every participating school receives an Elena Baltacha Foundation certificate, while each pupil taking part also receives their own individual certificate.
These certificates provide a lasting reminder of their involvement and celebrate the pupils’ participation in the programme.
But the Foundation’s ambition does not stop when the coaching session finishes.
A comprehensive signposting programme is incorporated into the initiative, helping pupils and families discover opportunities to continue their tennis journey within their local community.
With the support of the foundation, schools are encouraged to promote local tennis clubs close to their pupils, creating a pathway from the school environment into community tennis. The aim is simple: if a child discovers that they enjoy tennis through an Elena Baltacha Foundation session, they should know where they can go next to continue playing.
Looking Forward to the New School Year
With London and Suffolk continuing to form an important part of the Foundation’s network, and Exeter and Sussex now being added to the programme, the year ahead promises to be an exciting one.
The Elena Baltacha Foundation remains committed to using tennis as a vehicle to inspire, educate, motivate, and create opportunities for young people.
As the new school year begins, the Foundation team is excited to get back into schools, meet new pupils, reconnect with existing schools, and, most importantly, put a tennis racket into the hands of as many young people as possible.
For the Foundation, every session represents an opportunity to create a positive experience and perhaps inspire a lifelong love of tennis.
