MK Ace Tennis launched in September 2009 and is the ONLY tennis club in Buckinghamshire that does not require the users to be members. This inclusive and welcoming environment benefits tennis, local sport and the community as a whole.

The initial phase of the project consists of redeveloping 4 floodlit hard courts located on the Milton Keynes Academy site, Leadenhall, Milton Keynes (formerly Sir Frank Markham Community School). The refurbishment will result in the local community being able to access local ‘Pay and Play’ tennis, junior and adult coaching, competitions, events and wheelchair tennis. Other satellite venues are used during after school hours, including Shenley Brook End School and The Hazeley School. There is also an extensive schools programme, with coaches going into many local schools to deliver curriculum and after school coaching.
 
The club was formerly known as The Community Tennis Club, which was set up by John Cavill in 2002. The change of name and brand allows the club to increase it’s appeal and marketing opportunities. All coaching activities that were under the Tennis Works banner are now run by MK Ace Tennis and John has been elected to run the club.

The club has huge ambitions and has recently recruited a strong board of trustees to lead the way. In January 2010 the club will hopefully be accredited charitable status and they are working with a fund raising consultant to access funds for their primary aims.

The club is about:

1. Personal Development – Coaching, social inclusion tennis, disabled tennis
2. Facilities – Improving facilities and developing areas for tennis and social integration
3. Campaigning – Raising the awareness and benefits of tennis

The objective is to raise £250,000 within the first year and in 3 years time to be attracting £1,000,000 a year to improve tennis.

The soon-to-be charity Chief Executive, John Cavill, said, “These are exciting times. Since setting up the not-for-profit club back in 2002, I have been successful in accessing small grants, which have gone a long way. This new era spells the way forwards where we can access big money to do a great job and use tennis to benefit thousands of people.”

Released: 15 January 2010