SWINDON-BORN Paralympic tennis star Louise Hunt is joining learning disability and mental health charity Phoenix Enterprises to help strengthen the ties between the charity and the town's employers.

Phoenix works with adults with a wide range of mental health or learning difficulties, helping them to build self confidence and self esteem while teaching them new skills with the goal of finding mainstream paid employment.

Louise is a world-class wheelchair tennis player who has represented Paralympics GB in both the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympic games.

She said: “When I was working as a community partner for the DWP, I saw first-hand the care and support Phoenix offers to its service users and the hard work and enthusiasm they put into to improving their lives.

"I`m very excited to be joining them. My role as employment engagement manager is all about finding, creating and improving the links between Phoenix and the many excellent employers in the local area who may be able to offer work to people who have had to confront tough challenges.

"I hope my refusal to be defined by my disability will encourage my friends and colleagues to fulfil their own potential.

Phoenix's chair of trustees Emma Rees said, “I am delighted Louise is joining our team. I know she will get on well with our service users and encourage them to believe that a disability can be overcome or worked around. At Phoenix we emphasise what people can do rather than what they can’t do."