A THREE Towns tennis coach has earned top recognition for how she has brought the community together through sport.

Allwyn Crawford's charity, Promoting Inclusion Through Sport, was recently crowned the winner in the 'connecting communities award' category at the annual Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and Tennis Scotland awards - considered the pinnacle of recognition within the tennis community.

There was excitement and jubilation as Allwyn walked away with the award at the ceremony, held in Stirling at the end of March, and was duly recognised for the efforts made in the past year.

The connecting communites award looked to recognise an individual, group or organisation that has provided tennis opportunities within any community setting.

They must have provided innovative ways for people within the community to engage with tennis, with a strong emphasis on those under-represented or under-served within the sport.

While they must have also been successful in driving deeper and broader engagement within the community, and has demonstrated positive social impact and provided a great and fun playing environment: making tennis safe, welcoming, accessible and inclusive.

It was safe to say that Allwyn, and Promoting Inclusion Through Sport ticked all the right boxes.

Concern for those with special needs and creating an environment of inclusion by way of connecting individuals, communities, local authorities and the general public has always been the motivation behind Allwy's efforts.

Having dedicated her mind, time, effort and energy to this cause over the last 12 years Allwyn has been recognised for her efforts once again.

This is the sixth prestigious award that Allwyn has received and each award holds their own significant pride and overwhelming sense of accomplishment.

Speaking after the awards, Allwyn said: "What an honour to be recognised in such a worthy category.

"My goal in life has always been inclusion, no matter in whatever way, shape, form or description.

"It takes dedicated effort by so many dedicated individuals to achieve this task and connecting individuals by connecting communities is and always will be our goal and objective".

"I am one of so many in a group under the banner of Promoting Inclusion Through Sport who have worked so hard and I am so proud, thrilled, humbled and overjoyed to see the delight on all the teams' faces when it was announced that we had won."

Saltcoats and Stevenston councillor Jean McClung also shared her delight at Allwyn's award success.

She said: "I am delighted for Allwyn and can say that in my opinion, though working with her locally, the accolade is well- deserved.

"She has done wonders for the local community and it is for me personally so gratifying to see Saltcoats’s very own tennis courts being well used once again."

Allwyn has been involved with tennis all of her life, and for the past 12 years has been an active tennis coach in both mainstream tennis as well as extending her coaching expertise to Additional Support Needs (ASN).

The LTA accredited coach only moved to Saltcoats at the end of 2022 and has recently championed and encouraged Tennis Scotland to support the use and hopefully upgrading of facilities at the Glebe tennis courts in Saltcoats.

In the near future, Allwyn will initiate free tennis lessons at the Glebe courts and she is already actively involved with weekly events for ASN at the Ardrossan Civic Centre.

Further to this, she recently become involved in assisting in ASN coaching sessions at Kilwinning Academy SSR.

From all at the Herald, congratulations Allwyn.