SARAH Bonnell School, based in Stratford, won the Team for Life award at the Sport Gives Back Awards in London.

The state-funded, all-girls school partnered with Greenhouse Sports three years ago in the middle of the pandemic and setup its tennis programme. The award was presented by Paralympian Ellie Simmonds OBE and Greenhouse Sports Ambassador and former England Netball captain Ama Agbeze MBE.

The Team for Life award celebrates the partnership between the two that has made tennis accessible to young people who previously thought it was a sport they couldn’t participate in.

Greenhouse Sports is a charity that funds and places elite, sports coaches into schools full time to run free to access sessions every day in their sport, becoming embedded within the school’s staff. They aim to not only give kids access to sport, but also to mentor and support their personal development through sport. Greenhouse Sports focus on where they are needed most, only partnering with schools in disadvantaged areas of the country.  

I struggle with focus in school, and knowing that I have tennis next period, it gives me motivation

Year 10 student, Michelle

Tom Sippy is the Greenhouse coach at Sarah Bonnell School and leads the tennis programme that has led to the sport thriving across the year groups. The partnership has raised the confidence of the participating students, on and off the court, as many have gone on to act in school productions and help mentor younger students.

Sippy, talking about his role and what it means to him, said: “When I first started, staff thought I was just teaching tennis, I think now they see that it has really transcended that, I cherish every single day here. It’s an honour to be involved in this award win, it shows the quality of the work we do, and it’s great that school, and the charity, get the recognition.”

Rae Potter, head teacher at Sarah Bonnell, was delighted to collect the award and spoke on the importance of the partnership. She said: “The programme has been amazing for the kids, you can really tell how much they value Tom’s coaching. He is a key member of our staff and we’re lucky to have him. The awards show was amazing, and it was lovely to see all the other winners getting recognition for so many great initiatives, we’re so happy to win the Team for Life award.”

When I first started, staff thought I was just teaching tennis, I think now they see that it has really transcended that

Tom Sippy, Greenhouse coach at Sarah Bonnell Schoo

Manal, a year 11 student at Sarah Bonnell school, added: “Through the programme I’ve developed new relationships, met new people, it’s like a new version of myself every time I get onto that court.”

Year 10 student, Michelle, said: “I struggle with focus in school, and knowing that I have tennis next period, it gives me motivation.”

The Sport Gives Back Awards were created to recognise the work of charities, organisations and individuals who change lives through sport. The awards ceremony took place at Cadogan Hall in London and will be screened on ITV1 on 24 March and made available on ITV X afterwards.