Local tennis club awarded a grant to promote and run pickleball classes

Pickleball is a paddle sport and is a mixture of tennis, table tennis and badminton.

Sileby Tennis and Pickleball Club has been awarded £1,300 through Charnwood Community Grants to promote and run pickleball classes.

The local tennis club has converted a tennis court into three pickleball courts.

Pickleball is a paddle sport which can be played in both singles and doubles and is a mixture of tennis, table tennis and badminton. The sport is seen as being inclusive for all ages.

Cllr Liz Blackshaw, the Council’s lead member for communities and neighbourhoods, said: “I am really pleased to see how this project is going and to see the pickleball courts and sessions prove so popular.

“When visiting the tennis club, it was clear to see how much it is enjoyed by members of the community and how accessible and inclusive it is. I even enjoyed a game myself! 

“We are determined to support community groups through our Charnwood Community Grants scheme which can provide vital funding for projects. I encourage groups and projects to have a look at applying for a grant.”

The borough council has provided community grants to 12 different projects totalling around £60,000 in its latest round of funding.

The £1,300 community grant was used towards promoting the game as well as putting on two open days at Sileby Tennis Club and running sessions at Soar Valley Leisure Centre during the winter.

Around 40 people use the pickleball courts at Sileby Tennis and Pickleball Club each week with sessions running on Sunday mornings, Monday mornings and Friday afternoons.

Chairperson of Sileby Tennis Club, Nigel Peckover said: “We are proud to be promoting pickleball to the residents of Charnwood and it is great to see the fantastic reaction to the game.

“Charnwood Community Grants have helped us promote and run sessions for pickleball and the grants are a great way for projects to receive vital funding.”