Brighton & Hove City Councils Withdean Sports Complex is pleased to announce that it has been awarded Beacon status, a Tennis Foundation and Lawn Tennis Association award given to sites that offer free and affordable tennis to the local community. The site will be receiving its official Beacon plaque at 10:30am on Monday 11^th April at a ceremony to be attended by Caroline Blincoe, Head of Clubs and Counties for the Lawn Tennis Association. To celebrate, the centre now operated by Freedom Leisure, will be offering free tennis coaching and tennis sessions throughout Monday.

Children aged 3 to 8 years old are invited to come along to the centre on 11 April between 09:00-10:30 to get a free taster of tennis coaching and those aged 9 years and over can come along between 11:00 -12:30. Adults are also welcome at the centre to try the tennis for free between 18:00 – 20:00. With free tennis courts and coaches available throughout the day there will be something for novice players and those who need help honing technique.

Jeff Hart, Managing Director of Freedom Leisure said, “This is a great achievement for Withdean Sports Complex, the new Beacon Status is a great way to get children and adults playing tennis more regularly. With free and affordable sessions now available at the centre, as well as coaching programmes, we hope to see more tennis players using the facilities.”

“It is great that Withdean ITI has been awarded Beacon status by the LTA to recognise the work the centre is doing in providing quality and affordable tennis programmes and facilities in the Brighton area. Said Tennis Development Manager Liz Squires.

“I look forward to working with Freedom Leisure over the coming months to support this development further. This launch day has hopefully provided local residents with a taster of what is to follow!”

For further information on Freedom Leisure and the facilities at Withdean Sport Complex

please visit www.freedom-leisure.co.uk

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Editors Notes:

Freedom Leisure is the leading not-for-profit leisure trust in the South East managing 29 leisure and fitness centres across Sussex and Kent, including K2 Crawley, one of the country’s flagship leisure centres.  Freedom Leisure is committed to the provision and development of inclusive leisure and fitness facilities. Through continued investment, Freedom Leisure strives to provide a wide range of opportunities for improving health and wellbeing for all its communities.