Trent volunteers ace it with annual tennis tournament fundraiser for NSPCC

A group of volunteers from the NSPCC Trent district have raised over £1,000 for the children's charity by organising their latest annual tennis tournament.

Keyworth & District Lawn Tennis Club played host to the fundraiser, which saw 40 people aged between 16 and 75 take part in a doubles tournament, raising £1275 for the children's charity.

World Champion Rackets Sports Player Izzy Bramhall set up the competition in 2021,making it a regular event for the district. Izzy said: It was a fantastic team effort today from everyone involved. Starting with Keyworth Tennis Club for donating their courts and facilities for us to use for free, Farmery Services Limited for sponsoring the event, then on to the volunteers providing the hospitality, and finally to the court volunteers and players who all came together to deliver an excellent competition of tennis and friendship.

The one-day tournament saw each couple played seven consecutive games and ended with a presentation of hand-decorated gift bags to the winning couple, Mark Simes and Fran Creswell.

Sue Martin, a member of the NSPCC Trent District committee, said "We had an absolutely fantastic time and we would like to thanks everyone, including Izzy for her help in organising this event, along with all our volunteers and supporters. For the past three years, the tennis competition has become a big event in our committee's calendar.

Not only is the tennis competition a great opportunity for physical exercise but it is a means to raise money to support so many children with Childline and our NSPCC schools service."

The Trent NSPCC Committee is run by a group of devoted volunteers and has been running for 56 years. Together, they have organised events over the years for the charity including charity balls, dinners, flower arranging and, most recently, a virtual horse racing night.

Barbara Elsey is the NSPCC's Community Fundraising Manager for the East Midlands and delivered a talk during the tennis event lunch where she spoke about the NSPCC, its Childline service, and how they would benefit from the money raised.

Barbara said: "I would like to give a tremendous thanks to Sue, Izzy and all the volunteers and participates who made the tennis tournament such a fun and special day for everyone. It was wonderful to have the chance to come along and meet everyone. Altogether, all those who donated and supported the event have helped to raise vital funds for essential services that we run from our Midlands hub based in Nottingham. To raise £1,275 is a fantastic achievement. Also, it is events like the tennis tournament that help raise awareness of what we do so we can help more children and young people.

The committee's next project project is a Christmas Carol event which is taking place on Monday 16 December that will include entertainment, mulled wine and nibbles.

If you would like more information the upcoming Christmas Carol event, or if you would like to join the Trent NSPCC Committee as a volunteer, then please email Gill King at gillmking@icloud.com

To find out about volunteering for the NSPCC please email volunteerrecruitment.@nspcc.org.uk