BORTH Family Centre is celebrating a grant to secure its future for a further three years and a generous donation of equipment from Tennis Club Wales.

As well as receiving £243,000 from The Big Lottery People and Places Fund, which means the centre can start planning for the future and introduce an expansion of its services, the centre has also received tennis rackets, balls and nets to encourage children to get active.

The kit will be used as part of the centre’s new youth activities programme, which can now be set up using the lottery grant and will provide things for children aged 11-16 to do when previously under-11s were catered for.

Manager Helen Williams said: “With the new lottery grant we’re setting up youth activities for 11 to 16 year-olds, extending our service from 0 to 11 years.

“Our new tennis equipment is part of that new development and will be used by youths to build independence, communication skills, teamwork and fitness.

“John Whitehall from Tennis Wales contacted us to donate the equipment and we’re very excited to have been given this and to be using it in the months to come.

“As John says, we don’t need a court, so tennis can be played inside the hall or outside. It’s all about getting people involved.”

As well as the equipment, a youth worker will also receive training to coach tennis.

“This isn’t about becoming a tennis star, or taking over the tennis club in Aberystwyth,” said Helen. “It’s about getting youths up and moving.”

The youth activities programme will be launched in September.