A BARRY sports club has been recognised for its community links.

Barry Athletic Tennis Club has been honoured for developing links across the local community in order to promote healthy lifestyles for all ages and contribute to the sense of wellbeing of the people of Barry and the Vale.

The tennis club regularly links with local small businesses, providing mutually beneficial platforms for promotion and services, from one-off raffle donations helping to raise funds for the volunteer-run club, through event support - such as the recent Bakeoff supported by the local Vale Cake Boutique, Barry Island Café Coastal Coffee, and local Pampered Chef Franchisee - to the community partnership it enjoys with local Personal Training company FitM8.

Barry Athletic Tennis Club also offers a regular Player of the Month award.

The tennis club’s junior development officer, mum-of-three Penny Mickelsen who is a tennis coach, but also volunteers at the club in her spare time, has been the chief link between the club and the wider community.

And at the Junior Christmas party she was presentation with flowers and award from FitM8 as Outstanding Community Partner.

FitM8 said: “We are very proud to give Penny her award this year as she has gone above and beyond to promote healthier lifestyles and fitness within the community.

“Penny specialises in making her tennis sessions fun and informative.”

The tennis club will continue to build on the success of its community links established in 2014 and champion local businesses through initiatives such as the Shop Local Barry scheme, and forge a clear role as a community-driven sports club with something for everyone.

Penny said: “I love my work with the tennis club, both as a coach and a volunteer, and have met some fantastic people as a result of my involvement. I felt appreciated just through some of the lovely Christmas cards and messages I received from players and their families, so to get a formal acknowledgement of my contribution through FitM8’s award was very special and totally unexpected. Seeing players enjoying themselves and developing a love of the game thanks to the small input I can have is hugely rewarding in itself, so the award really was the icing on the cake to mark the end of a thoroughly fulfilling year.”