Wimbledon Foundation seeks to get local community active

THE Wimbledon Foundation, the charity of The All England Lawn Tennis Club and The Championships, has awarded grants totaling more than £64,000 to help local residents to be more physically active.

The Get Set, Get Active Fund, launched by the Wimbledon Foundation in 2016, aims to help improve people’s physical and mental wellbeing by increasing opportunities for them to take part in a physical or sports activity or learn a new skill.

More than 40 local groups and clubs active in the boroughs of Merton and Wandsworth applied for to the Get Set, Get Active Fund with grants awarded to 29 wide-ranging projects helping cover items such as equipment and kits, coaching fees and venue hire.

Helen Parker, Foundation & Community Manager said:

“The Get Set, Get Active Fund is about offering people of all ages and backgrounds in our community the opportunity to take part in some form of physical activity, so we were thrilled to receive applications covering such a variety of pursuits. From korfball sessions for young people to a cycling project for the visually impaired, we hope local people will try something new and reap the benefits exercise can bring.”

The Wimbledon Foundation also encouraged applications from organisations tackling social problems and helping people facing disadvantages to improve their quality of life. Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS), a charity which supports people of refugee and asylum-seeking background who live in South West London, was awarded a grant towards swimming lessons for refugee children in Wandsworth.

Egle Banelyte, Youth Coordinator and Finance Officer said:

“CARAS is very excited to develop our sports offer to young people from refugee background. Sport is what helps young people stay happy and cope with every day stress. Young people want to learn to swim, but due to coming to the country at age 14+, they were unable access the school coaching. Often young people we work with also had to undertake difficult sea crossings, which could lead to fear of water. We will be working in partnership with Cindy Swim School in Battersea to teach young people to swim, improve their wellbeing and advocate for more swim classes for college students in the borough of Wandsworth.”

Merton and Morden Guild were awarded a Get Set, Get Active Fund grant towards exercise classes for older people specifically tailored for those who have suffered a fall and have attended the NHS Staying Steady Falls Prevention Course. 

Hamish Duncan, General Secretary for Merton and Morden Guild said:

“We are delighted to be able to take a new group of people to get active, improve functional ability, enjoy their lives and have fun.  Getting people together to exercise can positively improve the effects of isolation, loneliness and help increase social interaction which will improve wellbeing.”

During The Championships, local school children supported by Squash Squared, a previous Get Set, Get Active Fund beneficiary, took part in a coaching clinic led by Judy Murray and Anne Keothavong on HSBC’s Court 20 in The Queue.

For the full list of Get Set, Get Active Fund projects, go to: http://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/wimbledonfoundation/get_set_get_active_projects.html

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