A charity has been recognised with the Connecting Communities Award at the prestigious LTA Tennis Awards, presented by Lexus.

Achieve More! Scotland, who are based in Glasgow, claimed the award at the ceremony at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton, which was followed by a day at Wimbledon.

The organisation have worked with the LTA to deliver LTA Serves programmes in some of the most deprived areas of Scotland and have seen the young people involved flourish.

“It feels fantastic and still a little bit surreal because we are in our infancy in a way,” tennis coordinator Jack Edward said.

“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.

“We’ve got so much we can still tick off so it just feels so amazing to have this investment in what we could achieve and what we have already achieved, it is a great feeling.

(Image: LTA Getty)

“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.

“And going in there two months ago and half of them have never played tennis and we go in and they are all buzzing about it.

“They will just pick up a racket and are so keen to play and seeing the kids themselves really really wanting to play, I can’t put words to it, it is amazing.”

The annual LTA Tennis Awards, presented by Lexus, highlight and celebrate the incredible achievements and contributions of people in tennis across Britain.

First launched in 2015 with the help of former LTA president Cathie Sabin OBE, they recognise the vital work of volunteers, coaches, officials, and players dedicating their precious time and energy to the continual development and growth of the sport.

Over the past nine years, the awards have illustrated the depth of service and talent within the tennis community and serve as an inspiration to others to get involved in the game.

The winners, selected from more than 2,200 nominations across 15 different categories, have all been acknowledged for their outstanding contribution to tennis in 2023.

Business coordinator Robert McHarg said: “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.

“It is all about inclusion, it is all about giving children and young people the opportunity to try as many sports as possible but also to have long term access to these sports, rather than just having a racket in your hand for a one-off session.

“We are looking at the long-term and have partnerships with clubs and are making sure that these children have a pathway to playing, to volunteering and possibly coaching in the future.”

LTA President Sandi Procter said: “The ceremony has been a tremendous celebration of the people that make our sport so special.

“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.

“I have always been passionate about the grassroots and the awards are our way of highlighting the extraordinary contribution of the individuals and venues that help us open tennis up bringing new players and fans to the game.’’

The LTA Tennis Foundation (LTA TF) is the LTA’s official charity, working across Great Britain, with a mission to improve lives through tennis, and an ambition that every child, young person, and adult can access to the unique and life-changing benefits that tennis offers. The LTA TF supports organisations through its Grant Making Programme.

The annual LTA Tennis Awards, presented by Lexus.