The transformation of the North Oxford Lawn Tennis Club junior programme was completed on Saturday with the official opening of the North Oxford Academy The Academy is the culmination of three years of dedicated work by its head coach, Chris Hampton.
Since joining the club in 2008 he has increased the number of children and young people involved from 100 to 300.
The Academy includes an in-house programme based at the club, a comprehensive tennis camp in the summer holidays and a big outreach programme that includes local schools and tennis in the parks.
“I am totally committed to opening up tennis to the masses,” said Hampton.
“I want to work with kids and parents who would not normally have access to a tennis club and all its facilities.”
Children can start as young as five and progress to 14 when they can follow the road to Wimbledon by playing in the North Oxford under 14 competition, go on to the county final and from there into the national competition.
Government funding has been tapped to offer a number of free places to children from more deprived backgrounds.
Further information can be found on the NOLTC website www.northoxfordltc.org.uk.
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