about US
Atlantic Racquet Centre is a brand new community racquets & fitness centre where everyone can exercise, socialise and learn together. The centre is a volunteer led community business and charity focussed on improving the health & wellbeing of people living in Bideford and its surrounding areas.
What We Do
In short, we offer court hire, gym use, memberships and coaching to people of all backgrounds and abilities. We strive to make our Tennis, Badminton, Table Tennis and Fitness facilities affordable and accessible to as many people as possible. We run a prolific community outreach programme with the aim of bringing racquet sport to the whole community. As part of this programme we work with 14 local primary schools, 3 secondary schools, 2 SEN schools as well as local disability centres and community groups.
As a registered charity which is managed by a group of volunteer directors and a small team of employed staff we aim to put volunteers at the heart of everything we do. Not only do we rely on volunteers for the day to day operation of the centre but we aim to further our support of local people by creating roles and volunteering opportunities for people to develop skills in a safe and supportive environment.
The Final Phase
After the successful completion of our new gym, changing rooms and reception level in Dec 2021, and the addition of our 2 new Squash & Racketball courts, the final phase of our building project is due to be completed in late 2024. The final ‘upstairs’ level of our building will include:
2 multi-purpose fitness studios
A community café and lounge
Our Story…
ARC began as a dream over 20 years ago when the members of the former Westward Ho! Tennis Club in neighbouring Westward Ho! voted to expand and explore options for building a large scale racquet & fitness centre for the whole community of Torridge. Using the funds from the sale of the old WHTC site and various injections of funding from local and national bodies at different times, a small group of dedicated and committed volunteers have led and delivered the project. After years of fighting planning applications and searching for funding the first earth was dug in late 2014. You can see our journey so far here:
December 2000 - The first ‘Development Committee’ meeting is held at WHTC
November 2013 - After years of failed applications, planning permission is finally approved on a suitable site
September 2014 - Groundworks begin at Caddsdown Industrial Estate in Bideford.
April 2015 - ARC Opens with 6 outdoor Tennis courts, 4 of which floodlit.
November 2016 - Additional floodlights are installed giving 6 floodlit outdoor courts
January 2018 - Our ‘Indoor Tennis & Badminton Hall’ is opened with 4 indoor acrylic Tennis courts
September 2018 - 3 Roll-out Badminton courts are opened to the public
September 2020 - Table Tennis Tables are made available at the centre
December 2020 - The site drainage is completed and new purpose built car park opened
September 2021 - A 60Kw solar array and PowerVault battery storage system is added to the large roof of the centre providing the centre with its own sustainable renewable energy source.
December 2021 - The ground floor of the new building is completed and open comprising of large gym, changing rooms & toilets, reception, meeting spaces & offices and a Changing Places disabled toilet and shower room.
June 2023 - 2 x ASB glass back Squash & Racketball courts completed and opened to the public.
Our Partners
We’re really proud to be a locally routed organisation with strong community links. We work with many local organisations but have formed special partnerships with some in particular who share our aims and ethos. We work closely with these partners to share skills, knowledge and best practice, as well as to further each other’s community aims. Our partners also sit as corporate directors of ARC.
TNCT are a local charity offering person centred support to individuals with learning and physical disabilities. They also support older people and individuals with dementia. They provide residential, supported living and enabling, domiciliary care and day opportunities.
ACCT is a partnership of aspirational local primary schools across the North Devon Atlantic Coastline. The schools work together through shared core values which inspire and empower over 3500 local children to achieve their full potential.
Our Funders
ARC has been made a reality by the support of many national and local organisations as well as donations from our members and community. You can see some of these organisations below to whom we are extremely grateful.
