Hundreds of children enjoy tennis during schools roadshow visit to Moray

The tennis roadshow brought Tennis Scotland and LTA-registered coaches to two schools each day from 19-23 January with hundreds of young people then given the chance to play for free at an open weekend at Moray Indoor Tennis Centre in Elgin.

The national schools programme, FAGE LTA Youth Schools, received a huge boost last year thanks to £1 million of further investment with the aim of giving every child in Scotland the opportunity to try tennis.

The initiative is a collaboration between the LTA, LTA Tennis Foundation, Tennis Scotland, sportscotland and the Scottish Government working together to grow tennis in Scottish schools. This investment is intended to capitalise on growing participation in Scotland and recognise the inspirational achievements of Andy Murray and Jamie Murray over many years, contributing to the ongoing achievements of players including Gordon Reid, Jacob Fearnley, Cam Norrie and Maia Lumsden.

The new funding was provided by the LTA Tennis Foundation and sportscotland into the FAGE LTA Youth Schools programme. Tennis Scotland and the sportscotland Active Schools network are working directly with schools, with the ambition of giving every schoolchild in Scotland the opportunity to experience tennis, regardless of age, gender, ability, disability or background. This investment will also create pathways for children to continue to play tennis outside of their school by creating links to local clubs, parks and other venues with affordable programmes.

The programme gives every school in Scotland access to a comprehensive support package, including teacher training and equipment allowing them to deliver tennis both during and outside the school day as well as building links with local accredited coaches and LTA registered clubs and venues to create a pathway for sustained tennis participation. 

Chair of Moray Council’s Education, Children's and Leisure Services Committee, Cllr Kathleen Robertson said: "We are delighted that pupils across Moray are getting the chance to try tennis through this programme. Initiatives like this encourage children to be active, enjoy sport and develop new skills.

"With the upcoming launch of our Active Moray strategy, it’s a great time to support young people in discovering sports they love and helping them stay healthy and active."

The pathway to year-round tennis in Moray has been vasty improved by the opening of the Moray Indoor Tennis Centre in summer 2024. The £1.63 million four-court centre gives players, clubs and schools throughout the region the chance to play regardless of the weather and gives a huge opportunity to grow tennis participation in the area.

The centre has been delivered in partnership between Moray Sports Foundation, sportscotland, the LTA, LTA Tennis Foundation and Tennis Scotland through the Transforming Scottish Indoor Tennis (TSIT) fund.

TSIT is designed to support innovative and creative projects to meet local demand and fill the geographical gaps in indoor tennis provision that currently exist across Scotland. At £15 million, TSIT is the largest capital investment programme in the sport’s history in Scotland and the aim is to create more and better opportunities to play tennis all year round.

With plenty of court time available, the hope is the schools programme will drive children to local clubs and the indoor tennis centre to continue their journey in the sport.

Iain Stokes, Chief Executive of Moray Sports Centre, said: “The pathway to year-round Tennis in Moray has been transformed. For the first time, schools, clubs and families across the region have access to a high-quality indoor facility where weather is no longer a barrier to participation. Programmes like FAGE LTA Youth Schools give children a great first experience of tennis and a clear, affordable route to continue playing locally, and we’re delighted to see so many pupils engaging with the sport and taking their next steps at Moray Sports Centre.”

Forbes Dunlop, Chief Executive of sportscotland, said: “Our aim at sportscotland is an active Scotland where everyone is able to enjoy the benefits of sport. Working in partners like the LTA, Tennis Scotland and the Scottish Government on programmes like LTA Youth Schools and TSIT is essential to help us break down barriers to sport, improve participation and build on the growing success of tennis in Scotland.”

Michelle Gray, Schools & Further Education Support Manager at the LTA said:  “This programme gives thousands of children across Scotland the chance to pick up a racket and discover tennis in a fun, inclusive way. By supporting teachers to feel more confident in teaching tennis, and working with schools and partners, we want every young person to feel that tennis is a sport for them, whatever their background. Continued investment in schools, facilities and pathways is helping to grow participation and build on the strong progress being made across Scotland.”

Andrew Raitt, Head of Participation at Tennis Scotland, said: “We’ve had a brilliant week in Moray, introducing tennis to hundreds of school pupils in a fun and engaging way, and it’s been inspiring to see so many children discover this fantastic sport for the first time. We want to give every child in Scotland the chance to try tennis, so we’ll be working hard to give teachers and coaches the tools they need to deliver in schools right across the country.”