Team Up For Tennis serves up a major success
There was good news for the Team Up For Tennis programme which operates at Bishopstown Lawn Tennis Club (BLTC) in association with Down Syndrome Cork (DSC), as it has secured significant funding, allowing the programme to expand and grow.
Bishopstown Credit Union has agreed to sponsor new equipment for the programme and the creators now have ambitions to expand to other tennis clubs around Ireland.
The programme was initially created by Therese McNamee, who is the mother of Anna, a 12 year old child with Down Syndrome. Anna, had enjoyed the after-school tennis program at BTLC for many years and was ready to move up to the next level. However, as Therese explains, “She didn’t possess the skills necessary to participate at the next level, as the jump was too great. For the majority of our children, the opportunity for continued inclusion in their local tennis club ends here.”
With this in mind, she devised the Team Up For Tennis Programme which is led by the club’s head coach, Conor Twomey. “He has injected years of coaching expertise into the programm. Conor uses music throughout the session and an array of carefully selected fun activities.
“To see it in action, it’s little wonder why many of the children view it as the highlight of their week!”, said Therese.
She said they were genuinely thrilled to receive the generous equipment funding from Bishopstown Credit Union to help further the programme.
“Thanks to this funding, we were able to acquire a diverse range of equipment that keeps our programme exciting and the children coming back each week. One of the most loved purchases is a giant multi-coloured parachute that the children raise in the air and run underneath, along with a portable music system on wheels, pre-loaded with the athletes' favourite hits by their much-loved coach, Conor.”
Down Syndrome Cork expressed their delight to be involved in the initiative that has made tennis accessible to their members. They praised head coach Conor for designing a programme that is both enjoyable and purposeful, saying “all the children love it”. They also expressed gratitude to Bishopstown Credit Union for the funding provided to purchase the essential equipment.
Speaking about Team Up For Tennis, a spokesperson from Bishopstown Lawn Tennis Club said: "It has been our privilege to provide support to Therese, to Down Syndrome Ireland and to the Team Up for Tennis team during the pilot phase of the TUT programme. We are absolutely delighted that their hard work is paying off. We will continue to offer any support we can and we wish Therese and the TUT programme much success as the programme expands.’’