Table Tennis England launches grant scheme and equipment competition
Today Table Tennis England launches the Disability Table Grant Scheme to help more disabled people get into table tennis. On the same day, the English Federation of Disability Sport has teamed up with Table Tennis England for a competition, where groups can win a fantastic prize!
Grant scheme
The benefits of table tennis on health and wellbeing are well established, and disability projects involving the sport have had some very positive results. This was certainly the case when South West Autism and Active Devon introduced table tennis to young people on the autistic spectrum.
The grant initiative gives the opportunity to organisations or charities, which work with disabled people to purchase a table tennis table at a subsidised rate. Prices start from £160. Sport England is providing the funding for the scheme.
Table Tennis England is passionate about creating more playing opportunities for disabled people and in May this year backed the English Federation for Disability Sport (EFDS) Charter for Change.
The Disability Table Grant Scheme feeds into Table Tennis England’s target to increase the number of disabled people regularly participating to 25,600 by 2017, as set out in the Mission 2025 document.
It works on an application basis. Applicants should work with over-16s. Please note, replacement of worn tables is not covered by the scheme.
Click here to download the application form.
Each successful application also receives a resource pack including 10 bats, 12 balls, a ladder board and knockout cup posters. Delivery and installation is included.
For more information on the scheme, please contact Development Project Support Officer Michaela Clark on development@tabletennisengland.co.uk or 01908 208883. If you wish to contact us by text, please contact the Clubs and Disability Manager Steve McFadyen on 07909 523724.
Win table tennis equipment worth over £300
To celebrate our launch of the scheme, Table Tennis England has teamed up with EFDS to give one lucky group or organisation a chance to win over £300 worth of equipment.
The prize is an Indoor Table Cornilleau Sport 250, with an RRP of £325.00. It features built-in storage space, has sturdy wheels and brakes, leg levellers, and is suitable for play from a wheelchair. The 19mm thick table comes in blue and has a three-year guarantee. The prize includes delivery and installation, bats, a selection of table tennis balls and some competition ladder boards too. Table Tennis England is also able to customise the table with the winning organisation’s branded stickers to add some character to the table.
To be in with a chance of winning, an organisation should submit an article of no more than 300 words on how they ensure disabled and non-disabled people can play alongside each other in a welcoming environment.
Entrants should be based in England and must be an organisation, multi-sports club or group working predominately with over-16s and which wants to use the table to create new sessions or expand existing ones.
Table Tennis England and EFDS will promote the winning article on their websites and social media channels. The information will also be used to showcase better practices in sport.
Good luck!
