CHARD Tennis Club needs your help to replace cracked and broken courts and keep the club’s members playing for longer.

The club has applied for grant funding to replace two of the existing tarmac courts with artificial clay.

Jacky Boothman, the Chard club’s chairman, said: “The biggest advantage of a clay tennis court is the soft and comfortable feeling it gives players underfoot, reducing impact on joints and preventing injuries.

“The softer surface enables players to play for longer sessions and to play into older age.

“Having treated many local people with sporting injuries, award-winning local osteopath, Rachel Philimore, is delighted with the proposal and wholly supports the idea of artificial clay courts as a way of encouraging more people to get active.

“Tennis is a wonderful all-round sporting activity that is good for your health in many ways.”

The tennis club is hoping to cover some of the cost of the new surface with a grant from the Aviva Community Fund.

The insurance company’s awards scheme supports projects which support health and wellbeing, skills for life, community support and inclusivity.

There are different funding brackets to apply for, with Chard Tennis Club hoping for a grant of between £10,001 and £25,000.

Mrs Boothman said: “Many people have knee , back and hip injuries due to the pounding on a hard surface and shoulder injuries due to the high bounce.

“They may then stop playing or play less often which is not so good for their physical and mental well being.

“Well over 100 people would benefit and the courts would encourage more people to play.”

The Aviva Community fund is set to support more than 500 projects across the UK.

Voting opened on October 24, and you will be able to cast your vote of support until November 21.

Once you have signed up, you get 10 votes which you can use at any time during the voting phase of the competition. You can support as many projects as you like, or use them all to support one project.

Mrs Boothman added: “The more votes we get the better the chance of securing the grant.

Chard deserves a club that has top class facilities which enhance people’s playing experience.”

To cast your 10 valuable votes for Chard Tennis Club, sign up at community-fundaviva.co.uk/voting.