Disadvantaged teenagers 'buzzing' for 'once in a lifetime' trip to Wimbledon

A group of disadvantaged teenagers are heading to Wimbledon this weekend for a “once in a lifetime” trip.

The group, who volunteer for charity, Achieve More! Scotland, have been taking part in one of their tennis programmes and for many it will be their first trip to London.

David Healy, 18, from Gartcosh, is one of those who has been chosen to go on the trip.

He says he is “buzzing” for the chance to go to Wimbledon and is grateful for the opportunity.

He said: “I did go to the David Cup last year with Achieve More, that was really good, but this is the biggest tournament you can go to in the UK, even in the world in fact.

“It’s so big and it’s going to be an amazing experience to see that in person.

“If I wasn’t volunteering with Achieve More! there’s so much stuff that I wouldn’t have been able to do.

“It’s just great to be able to do all this.”

Achieve More! Scotland, delivers programmes to improve young people’s physical and mental health by engaging them in structured activities.

Olivia Scott, 15, from Glasgow, has been volunteering for around a year and is also heading to London.

“I’m actually really excited to go,” she said.

“It’s such a great experience especially at such a young age, like going to Wimbledon and experiencing that, because not a lot of people get to experience that in their life.”

The tickets have been donated by Tennis Scotland following a partnership with the charity.

Paul Fletcher, Achieve More! Scotland said: “These are kids who have never experienced anything like that before.

“They love tennis and the volunteers who are taking the sessions, they’re so excited.

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity that would never otherwise have been granted had the tickets not been donated.

“All the volunteers who aren’t going this time are already trying to say they want to go next year.

“It really is such a fantastic opportunity”.