Peterborough sports back on the table thanks to new funding

With recent Government guidance relaxing some of the restrictions, certain sports have seen an increase in participation, with table tennis being one of them.

In partnership with Living Sport, Peterborough City Council submitted a bid for funding to Table Tennis England for equipment to encourage local communities to get back into sport whilst socially distancing.

This successful bid means 60 new table tennis packs will be allocated to the existing outdoor table tennis tables across the city. These packs will be distributed in early July through local community centres and groups, to locations near the outdoor tables to encourage participation and to get people more active.

Last year, the partnership was successful in a bid with Table Tennis England and Viridor to provide five outdoor tables free for community use. These tables are located at Central Park, Bretton Park, Braybrook playing field in Orton and Nene Valley Community Centre. There is also a roll away indoor/outdoor table at Cross Keys Homes’ community hub in Westwood.

Other outdoor tables are available at Connect Park on Dyson Close and at Itter Park in Walton.

Councillor Steve Allen, Peterborough City Council’s cabinet member for recreation, said: “With the nicer weather upon us and restrictions lifted to allow us to spend time outdoors whilst socially distanced, we are eager to encourage more people to return to physical activity.

“These new table tennis packs provide a great opportunity for people to increase their participation in sport and keep active whilst continuing to adhere to the social distancing guidance.”

Sally Gibson, sports delivery co-ordinator for Living Sport, said: “It has been fantastic to see the impact that table tennis has had on local communities during the lockdown period with families playing at home.

“Through our partnership working with Table Tennis England and the local authority, we have been able to bring equipment to families so that they can access their local outdoor table.”

A spokesman for Table Tennis England said: “It is as important as ever we deliver opportunities for people to be active through table tennis again and, adapting our offers to tackle the problem of inactivity, particularly amongst the groups that are becoming even more marginalised – Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic community, and people with long term health conditions.

“The overall response to complete an expression of interest was fantastic, and we decided on two main approaches a) to supply equipment to households so that they can play at home and b) to supply equipment to individuals so that they can play on their local public table.

“To accompany packs, there will be flyers and resources of how/where to play along with a link to a participation survey for individual families to complete. It’s important we track the usage and participation of this period which for some has caused inactivity levels to increase.”