A TOWN community sports project is celebrating a double success.

Lido Park Tennis, based on the courts at the park in Droitwich, secured the brace at the Herefordshire and Worcestershire LTA (Lawn Tennis Association) 2024 Awards.

It claimed both Park Venue of the Year and Connecting Communities accolades for the work done in getting people active both in the local community and further afield with its outreach programme.

The volunteer-led group has been running fun-based tennis sessions for over six years now and regularly has 60 to 70 people a week taking part in the various groups it runs.

It ranges from tots tennis with junior and adult sessions for all ages and abilities through to walking tennis for those who are a bit less mobile.

The youngest player is just three years old and the oldest 88 in a few months’ time.

Over the last two years the organisation has also developed a comprehensive outreach programme, working with groups both locally and further afield.

This has especially been the case in the field of disability tennis, working with, amongst others, those who have suffered brain injuries, Parkinson’s disease, autism, visually-impaired/blind and other physical or mental health challenges.

Neil Bates, lead volunteer of the group, said “We are delighted to be presented with these awards which recognise the huge amount of work that all of our volunteers and helpers put in to getting people up and active from across the community.

"Everything we do is about having fun and not being too serious — a principle that seems to work with everyone who gets involved!”

The group now goes on to the regional awards which will be announced in the next few weeks.