Tennis club awarded £50,000 for rebuild

Founded in 1920, the club has secured Olympic legacy funding from Sport England’s ‘Inspired Facilities Fund’.

The new pavilion will be used to attract new youth members through a relationship with Henfield St Peter’s CofE Primary School.

The funding provided by the National Lottery will enable Henfield Tennis Club to vastly improve the facilities it offers for young people.

On July 12 and 13 the club will hold open days and two weeks of free tennis during Wimbledon Fortnight to promote the club.

The award will be supplemented by funds Henfield Tennis Club has been putting aside since the new pavilion plan was agreed several years ago.

Key objectives are to provide proper changing room and toilet facilities for players.

Digby Stephenson, the club chairman, said: “The new pavilion will be a tremendous boost to the club’s junior coaching function and we will be able to improve the viewing and seating area.

“We are very proud of our youth programme and this award will mean we can develop our junior coaching.

“Now we can upgrade our premises to match the quality of our courts and coaching programme.

“I am particularly keen to promote the club throughout the community, and to encourage young people of the village to play tennis - and to improve their skills”

MP for Arundel and South Downs Nick Herbert said: “I am delighted that Henfield Tennis Club has received this fantastic grant from Sport England.

“It is so important to provide the right facilities for young people to take part in sport - and this is an investment that will benefit tennis and the local community.”