Achieve More! Scotland, a charitable organization based in Glasgow, was recently honoured with the prestigious Connecting Communities Award at the LTA Tennis Awards, presented by Lexus.
At the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton, the organization received recognition for their work with the LTA in delivering LTA Serves programmes in economically disadvantaged areas of Scotland. The positive impact of their efforts is evident in the flourishing of young people involved in their programs.
Jack Edward, the tennis coordinator, expressed his excitement about receiving the award, stating, “It feels fantastic and still a little bit surreal because we are in our infancy in a way. Achieve More! have been around for 15 years but the actual tennis programme only got started at the beginning of last year, it feels like we are still just getting started.”
He continued, “A lot of the highlights have been on the ground stuff, it has been great hearing about the difference it is making, in particular at Haghill Primary School which is in an area of Glasgow that is basically nowhere near tennis courts.”
The annual LTA Tennis Awards recognise the exceptional contributions of individuals and organisations to the sport of tennis in Britain, from volunteers to coaches to players. With over 2,200 nominations across 15 different categories in 2023, the awards showcased the talent and dedication within the tennis community.
Robert McHarg, business coordinator for Achieve More! Scotland, highlighted the impact of their work, saying, “The number of children and young people that have been involved is amazing, over 300 actually with the rackets in their hands. To get the kids to actual tennis courts to play in tournaments and events and get coached by tennis coaches is absolutely fantastic and we’ve got big plans for the future.”
Sandi Procter, the LTA President, also expressed admiration for the finalists and winners, stating, “The incredible stories behind the finalists are so heart-warming to hear. The hard work and dedication of all the winners and runners-up too is unbelievable, and I am always so impressed by the selfless sacrifice of all the volunteers, officials, and coaches.”
The LTA Tennis Foundation, the official charity of the LTA, has been instrumental in supporting organizations like Achieve More! Scotland through its Grant Making Programme, with the goal of improving lives through tennis.
The ceremony was described as a tremendous celebration of the people that make the sport of tennis so special by LTA President Sandi Procter. The awards aim to highlight the extraordinary contribution of the individuals and venues that help open tennis up and bring new players and fans to the game.
The impact of Achieve More! Scotland in connecting communities through tennis is a testament to the power of sport in transforming lives. Their recognition at the LTA Tennis Awards is well-deserved, and their commitment to creating opportunities for children and young people to access and benefit from tennis is truly commendable.