With the WTT Star Contender taking place in London this week, the eyes of the table tennis world are once again on our capital city. But while the spotlight is focused on elite athletes competing at the very highest level, we’re working hard behind the scenes to make sure the impact of events like this is felt far beyond the arena — in community centres, schools, health settings and local spaces across London.
As we look ahead to hosting the World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals in 2026, this month has been all about continuing to build that wider legacy — one rooted in mental wellbeing, social connection, inclusion and long-term community impact.
Moving Minds, Changing Lives
One of the most exciting developments this month has been the continued rollout of Move Your Mind, our movement-based mental wellbeing programme delivered in partnership with Suffolk Mind. By combining light physical activity with table tennis-based games and practical mental health tools, the programme is designed to help people build resilience, improve emotional wellbeing and feel more connected to those around them.
We’ve been working to recruit and train new community trainers across London — particularly in boroughs such as Brent, Redbridge and Newham, where the need for inclusive and accessible wellbeing programmes is high. These new trainers will soon be delivering regular sessions in local venues, embedding the principles of Move Your Mind into grassroots settings and helping us reach people who might otherwise face barriers to being active.
Expanding Our Ping Hub Network
Ping Hubs remain one of our most effective ways to bring table tennis into everyday community life — from shopping centres and libraries to health facilities and parks. They’re much more than places to play; they’re inclusive, welcoming environments where people of all ages and abilities can connect, move and belong.
This month we’ve been developing new partnerships to grow the Ping Hub in Ilford, with an emphasis on creating sustainable, inclusive space that will become a key part of the legacy from 2026. Whether it’s older adults staying active, young people building confidence, or families discovering a new passion, Ping Hubs are at the heart of how we make table tennis accessible to everyone.
Partnerships with Purpose
Collaboration continues to underpin everything we do. We’re deepening partnerships with organisations including Activity Alliance, social prescribing networks, NHS teams and voluntary sector partners to ensure that table tennis is embedded in wider conversations around mental health, long-term condition management, disability inclusion and healthy ageing.
By working together, we’re demonstrating how table tennis can play a far bigger role in supporting social and health outcomes — and how sport, when delivered thoughtfully and inclusively, can genuinely change lives.
Looking Ahead: Legacy in Action
While the Star Contender celebrates the world’s best players this week, our focus remains firmly on ensuring that the momentum continues long after the final point is played. Over the coming months, we’ll be unveiling new community activation opportunities, expanding training and volunteering pathways, and supporting even more organisations to use table tennis as a tool for positive change.
Our ambition is clear: when the world returns to London for the World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals in 2026, it will find a city where table tennis is already transforming lives — not just on the show court, but in every corner of our communities.
Want to get involved?
If you’re a community organisation, local authority, healthcare partner or venue interested in being part of this growing movement, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can make table tennis a lasting force for connection, wellbeing and inclusion in London. Contact us at [email protected]