Talking Tennis with… Danny Sapsford - founder of Bright Ideas for Tennis
We spoke to the former GB Davis Cup player Danny Sapsford about how his charity is bringing opportunities for everyone to play tennis, whatever their situation or ability…
“...Tennis is better than any other sport for one’s mental wellbeing… It relieves anxiety, promotes social interactions, and makes players feel less isolated…”
After more than a decade as a professional player – during which he represented Great Britain at the Davis Cup, played at the US Open and reached the third round of Wimbledon – Danny Sapsford has forged a new career as a coach and the founder of charity Bright Ideas for Tennis.
Danny’s charity aims to help clubs generate funds to develop their coaching programmes, aid grant applications for capital projects, and to provide more opportunities for more people to play tennis. In particular, the brilliant I Play 30 programme helps clubs across the country to provide free tennis activity sessions designed for adults and children with learning, sensory and physical disabilities and for those experiencing mental ill health.
With ambassadors including Tim Henman, Dom Inglot, Lucy Shuker and current world #1 doubles player Joe Salisbury, Bright Ideas for Tennis is growing nationwide, and aims to have 100 disability venues open by the end of 2023.
Here’s our exclusive Q&A with Danny…
When did you first fall in love with tennis?
I started playing tennis when I was 10. By the age of 12 I was number 1 in the country. Everyone loves doing things that they are good at, so it was an obvious choice to keep playing….
What do you consider your greatest achievements as a professional player?
I played professionally for 13 years - playing at Wimbledon, and representing Great Britain in the Davis Cup have to be right up there.
How did Bright Ideas for Tennis come about?
I was building a bit of momentum in my coaching career. Feedback from my clients was great, and a few tennis holidays that I had hosted were very well received. I had an idea that if I could bring the same atmosphere and energy to an open day in the UK, it would certainly inspire the kids, and hopefully breathe life into potentially run down or stale coaching programmes.
This idea then evolved into Bright Ideas for Tennis.
What does Bright Ideas for Tennis do and who does it help?
Our mission statement is to help more players play more tennis. In our eight years of existence, we have visited over 450 venues, coached more than 30,000 players, raised over £1million, and provided in excess of 10,000 hours of free community based sessions.
For the past four years we have placed a greater focus on providing free tennis for a variety of different disability groups. We currently operate 29 venues across the UK, with a further 26 venues confirmed to be opening in April 2022.
Our goal is to have 100 disability venues open by the end of 2023.
What is your proudest moment with Bright Ideas?
I get a lot of pleasure from providing sessions to those that ordinarily wouldn’t get the opportunity to play tennis.
Seeing the joy that tennis can bring and the physical benefits that go with this (not forgetting the other social, and mental benefits too) is very rewarding.
What is special about tennis in particular that helps adults and children with learning, sensory and physical disabilities or mental ill health?
Tennis is a totally inclusive sport that can be adapted for any ability or disability. Scientific studies have concluded that tennis is better than any other sport for one’s mental wellbeing. It couldn’t be proven, but it is thought that the physical element to the sport combined with the social side make tennis so effective.
Tennis relieves anxiety, promotes social interactions, and makes players feel less isolated.
“…I get a lot of pleasure from providing sessions to those that ordinarily wouldn’t get the opportunity to play tennis. Seeing the joy that tennis can bring is very rewarding….”
What are the greatest challenges you face with Bright Ideas, and what more could be done to help?
At the moment, my biggest challenge is not having enough resources to deal with the demand. Tennis has been booming since the Covid restrictions have eased – the game is a naturally safe, socially distanced sport so more people have wanted to participate.
Raising funds, in order to hire more staff, in order to be able to cope with the increased demand would be a good start…
If you would like to get involved with Bright Ideas for Tennis - whether as a club, a volunteer, a coach, a school or to help in any way, visit www.brightideasfortennis.org.
You can also contact Danny on danny@brightideasfortennis.org or on 07986 880518.
See also
Talking Tennis with… Helen Abbott, inclusive tennis champion
Talking Tennis with… Lucy Shuker, Britain’s #1 Wheelchair Player
A gift for life - why every child should learn to play tennis
We’d love to share more stories from people who love tennis! If you - or someone you know - would like to be featured in a Talking Tennis Q&A, please drop us a line at lizzie@talkingtennis.co.uk
