Grab your FREE racket with Birmingham’s latest activity initiative
Inspired by Wimbledon? A City Council backed initiative plans to hand out thousands of tennis rackets in a bid to get Brummies active.
And, thanks to the Wot a Racket festival, people across the city can try their hand at badminton, tennis, table tennis and squash for FREE this summer.
Funded by Sport England and the national governing bodies of these racket sports, Wot a Racket will be giving away over 7,000 rackets and bats with organisers hoping the initiative will encourage individuals, families and groups to continue playing one of the rackets sports beyond the festival, either informally or in organised activity.
Organisers are planning a whole range of racket activities in unusual places in the city, in an attempt to challenge perceptions about the sports and who can play them.
Birmingham City Council Deputy Leader Cllr Ian Ward said: “We want people to be active in Birmingham and we also want them to have fun. This is our latest initiative aimed at making physical activity enjoyable and accessible.
“Wot a Racket is a fun initiative in partnership with Sport England and the national governing bodies for badminton, tennis, table tennis and squash.
“We’ve got free sessions across the city, we’re even giving away racquets and bats, so there really is no excuse not to give these activities a try.”
Wot a Racket will launch with a fun day in the city centre at New Street Station this Saturday (9 July) when budding Andy Murrays will be given the chance to try racket sports in a non-traditional setting.
The Wot A Racket team will host pop-up sessions in other unusual settings across the city, while there will also be regular weekly sessions in:
Calthorpe Park
Sunday 3-4pm
https://www.parklives.com/councils/birmingham/calthorpe_park/activities/19811
Conker Island
Friday 3-5pm
https://www.parklives.com/councils/birmingham/conker%20island/activities/19849
Handsworth Park
Sunday 1.30-3.30pm
https://www.parklives.com/councils/birmingham/handsworth_park/activities/19979
Small Heath Wellbeing Centre
Saturday 10an to 12pm
https://www.parklives.com/councils/birmingham/small-heath-wellbeing-centre/activities/20054
Small Heath Park
Saturday 12.30-3.30pm
https://www.parklives.com/councils/birmingham/small_heath_park/activities/20164
Fox Hollies Park
Tuesday 3.15-5.15pm
https://www.parklives.com/councils/birmingham/fox_hollies_park/activities/19926
For more information on locations, dates and times visit www.wotaracket.co.uk or check us out on Facebook.
