Tennis2Be is the WINNER of @NCVO photograph of the YEAR #bellyUPtennis

#bellyUPtennis @tennis2be #craiccup WINNER @NCVO photograph of the YEAR (photo credits to #MariaEllis)

NCVO Charity Photo Competition Tennis2Be (Charity) are delighted to have been part of this year’s National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) charity Photo Competition. The competition, now in its seventh year, aims to celebrate the work of charities across England, and challenged NCVO members to submit entries demonstrating the difference their organisations make. The competition received over 80 entries from organisations large and small, which were shortlisted to 22 entries by NCVO.

Tennis2Be was featured in the professional category, coming in as the WINNER! with an image taken by Maria Ellis at our girls club programme. These sessions make tennis accessible to about 25 Bengali girls in Tower Hamlets, work which is supported by London Youth through the #SERVES Tennis Foundation programme. This photo was taken during a visit when Tennis2Be trustees and London Youth Sports Manager Jas Hothi and John Jones visited to see first hand, the difference tennis has made to these once shy and reserved children.

The photo captures the essence of what we do which is portrayed vividly in all the participants faces and is aptly named because we don't take ourselves too seriously! :)) - we believe that tennis should be #fun #inclusive

The winners were picked by a judging panel comprised of Peter Kellner, chair of NCVO, Giselle Green, media coordinator for Constructive Voices, and Daniel Regan, award winning professional photographer and previous winner of photography competition.

Peter Kellner, chair of NCVO, said:

‘NCVO’s photo competition celebrates the charities up and down the UK who work every day on making a difference, and I was delighted to sit on the judging panel. The work of the charity sector is so diverse, and that was reflected in the great range of entries we received from organisations eager to demonstrate the difference their hard work makes in their communities. In newspapers, it is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. The wonderful entries to our competition show that, in our world, each picture represents a thousand inspiring deeds.’

Will Marsh, Client Services Director for Pureprint, said:

‘Pureprint are proud to have been able to support to work of NCVO’s photography competition, to help celebrate the great work of NCVO’s members. Images like these really add colour to the stories charities tell, and help bring to life the difference their work makes.’