Children from Deal, Dover and Thanet came together for the East Kent Schools Tennis Festival at Deal Indoor Tennis Centre.

The festival, hosted by Infinity Tennis and Deal and Dover Park Tennis Community Interest Company, and made possible thanks to the generosity of Your Leisure, who provided the venue free of charge, was a vibrant celebration of tennis and inclusion - showcasing how the sport can be opened up to every child, regardless of background or ability.

Children had the opportunity to experience wheelchair tennis, visual-impairment tennis and amputee tennis, gaining an appreciation for the challenges faced by players with disabilities.

The inclusive stations were made possible thanks to support from across the Kent tennis community. Kent Tennis provided specially adapted visual impairment equipment including bell balls and simulation glasses, whilst University of Kent's Indoor Tennis Centre in Canterbury kindly lent the wheelchairs used for the disability tennis stations.

“As someone who received free school meals growing up, targeting schools with high pupil premium carries extra meaning for me,” said Gavid Vickers, founder of Infinity Tennis.

“Tennis changed my life, and by giving these children the opportunity to experience the sport and possibly gain all the life-changing benefits I have - it feels like I’m giving something back. This is a mission that’s incredibly close to my heart.”

Karen Hodgson, from Deal and Dover Park Tennis CIC and an Inclusion Mentor with Kent Tennis, added: “One of the most powerful parts of the day was seeing children experience inclusive formats of tennis.

“Whether it was trying to return a ball with limited vision or navigating the court in a wheelchair, these activities helped open minds. It’s so important that children learn early on that tennis - and sport in general - is for everyone.”