A new partnership was announced this summer between Rackets Cubed and Yorkshire Tennis aimed at opening up tennis for primary school children across the county.
Rackets Cubed is a charity that runs after-school programmes across the UK, offering children from disadvantaged communities an integrated programme centred around sport, education, and nutrition.
Yorkshire Tennis president Karen Mitchell recently joined children from Haxby Road Primary Academy, who were taking part in a Rackets Cubed session hosted by Down the Line Tennis Academy at York St Johns.
During the session, Karen saw pupils enjoying a dynamic mix of tennis activities designed to build confidence and physical literacy. The session also included a hot meal and a classroom-based STEM session, based on designing a new high-tech outfit for Santa incorporating smart materials and wearable technology.
“It was invaluable watching the programme in action and the children clearly love their tennis lesson, the Santa-based STEM project as well as the food,” said Karen.
“The children don’t take part in any extra clubs and the Rackets Cubed programme is their only PE class at school. Funding from Yorkshire Tennis is making a big difference for them all.
Jules Abbas-Silvera, programme manager for Rackets Cubed, said the partnership with Yorkshire Tennis demonstrates a shared commitment to supporting children’s wellbeing both on and off the court.
“It was wonderful to have Karen Mitchell, the president of Yorkshire Tennis, visit the Rackets Cubed programme in York this week to see first hand the impact of the initiative they have supported for pupils from Haxby Road Primary Academy.
“Rackets Cubed operates in some of the most deprived communities across the UK, partnering with local schools and organisations. The Haxby Road programme continues to demonstrate the value of our model, with strong attendance, positive engagement, and visible benefits to pupils’ confidence and wellbeing.”
To find out more about Rackets Cubed, visit: www.racketscubed.com