Fibrus Broadband has allocated £20,000 through its Play It Forward Fund to 20 grassroots sports clubs across Cumbria, helping more children and young people get active through sport.
Among the clubs to benefit is Kendal Lawn Tennis Club, where funding will provide free coaching sessions for local children alongside new junior equipment, helping improve the experience for existing players while encouraging more youngsters inspired by Wimbledon to give tennis a go.
Fibrus’ Play it Forward Fund provides grants of up to £1,000 to help children’s sports clubs purchase equipment, kits or improve facilities, creating more opportunities for young people to take part in the sport.
Now in its fourth year, it has contributed £200,000 to more than 200 grassroots sports clubs across Northern Ireland and Cumbria since launching in 2023, supporting a wide range of sports from football and cricket to roller hockey, netball and golf, while promoting health and wellbeing.
At Kendal Lawn Tennis Club, the £1,000 grant will provide a significant boost to the club and make a real difference to its young players. Club chair Caz Graham said:
“We have quite a lot of old kit including some that’s beyond repair. This grant will allow us to replace some of that, such as rackets and mini nets, and the special types of balls with less pressure so children can get going and play matches and competitions even if they are just five or six.
“There’s some new kit as well such as targets to help kids learn to aim and hit the ball in the right place. We will also be able to pay for our junior coaches to do some sessions with kids as well.”
She added: “It means youngsters can turn up without anything and just get on the court and have a bash and see if they like it. It’s a brilliant sport for kids, it builds confidence and you make so many friends.”
Caz has been a member of the club for more than 20 years and is well known as a broadcaster especially on Radio 4’s Farming Today. She said;
“We want to get away from the idea that tennis is posh. In Cumbria it’s not a posh sport, all kids play tennis. It’s a sport for everyone.
“We just want as many kids as possible to get on the court and have a go.”
Kendal Lawn Tennis Club has around 30 junior members and 60 children and teenagers who attend coaching sessions. It recently staged its popular Wimbledon-style competition day for children, complete with strawberries and cream, as well as one for the adults – with the addition of Pimms.
One club member, Andrew Butcher, started as a junior with the club and became a linesman at Wimbledon for many years, said Caz.
“It’s a brilliant sport that will make them happy for the rest of their lives. I started tennis bashing a ball against a barn wall on our farm near Carlisle. It’s a great way to meet new people and make friends wherever you go.”
She added: “It’s a huge boost to the club to have this extra cash to spend on our junior players and improve the quality of what we can offer them.”
Linda McMillan, Chief People Officer at Fibrus, said:
“We’re delighted to have allocated £20,000 through our Play It Forward Fund to support 20 grassroots sports clubs across Cumbria. These clubs play a vital role in their local communities, helping children and young people get active, build confidence, develop new skills and make lasting friendships through sport.
“Kendal Lawn Tennis Club is a fantastic example of the difference this funding can make, providing new equipment and free coaching sessions that will create more opportunities for children and young people to get involved in tennis and enjoy the many benefits of sport.
“Supporting the communities we serve is an important part of who we are at Fibrus, and we’re proud that this year’s Play It Forward Fund will help clubs across Cumbria continue to thrive and inspire the next generation.”
Other clubs to benefit this year include Ulverston Cricket Club, which purchased new sports equipment; Flookburgh Amateur Boxing Club & Gym in Grange-over-Sands, which invested in starter kits for young people; Millom Junior Football Club; and Windermere Allstars netball club.
To find out more, visit the Fibrus Play It Forward Fund
