Worthing Table Tennis Club is continuing to look at how table tennis can reach more people in the local community, with the launch of a new dedicated session for people living with Parkinson’s, supported by funding from Parkinson’s UK.

The new sessions, held every other Thursday from 2.30pm to 3.30pm at Goring Methodist Church Hall, are deliberately being delivered outside the traditional table tennis club environment. The aim is to create an accessible, welcoming setting where people who may never have considered joining a table tennis club can discover the sport in a relaxed and supportive environment.

---

Table Tennis England is working with Parkinson’s UK and Parkinson’s England Table Tennis (PETT) to get more people with Parkinson’s into the sport. Click here to visit the PETT website.

---

For Worthing TTC, the project is part of a wider approach to making table tennis available to everyone in the community, not just those who already see themselves as table tennis players.

“We want to look beyond the traditional club model and think about where people are in their lives and what might make it easier for them to get involved,” said Matt Porter, Head Coach at Worthing Table Tennis Club.

“A traditional club environment can be fantastic for many people, but it isn’t necessarily the right starting point for everyone. By taking table tennis into community settings and working with organisations that already support particular groups, we can introduce the sport to people who might otherwise never walk through the doors of a table tennis club.”

The Parkinson’s sessions are a good example of this approach. Table tennis provides a combination of movement, coordination, balance, reaction, concentration and social interaction, making it an engaging activity for people living with Parkinson’s – as well as helping maintain and improve leg, arm and core strength, hand-eye coordination, balance and coordination.

However, the project is about much more than the physical benefits of playing. The sessions provide an opportunity for participants to meet other people, build confidence, stay active and become part of a regular community group. Carers, family members and supporters are also welcome, helping to remove some of the barriers that can prevent people from trying something new.

“We’re not trying to create another competitive table tennis session,” added Matt. “We’re creating an environment where people can come along, have a go, move, talk to other people and enjoy themselves. Everyone will have different abilities, and the session can be adapted around the people who attend.”

For Worthing TTC, this is an important part of what a modern table tennis club can offer its community.

The club already works across a wide range of ages and abilities, from young children taking their first steps into sport through to older adults, and has developed partnerships with schools and community organisations. The Parkinson’s project provides another opportunity to demonstrate how table tennis can be adapted and delivered in different environments to meet the needs of different groups.

It also highlights the role that local table tennis clubs can play as community hubs, rather than simply places where competitive players train and compete.

“We want people to think of Worthing Table Tennis Club as a club for the whole community,” said Matt. “That means creating different ways for people to engage with table tennis. For some it might be competition, for others coaching, social play, schools, disability sport, health and wellbeing or simply an opportunity to meet people.”

The project has been made possible through funding from Parkinson’s UK and forms part of a wider effort to increase opportunities for people living with Parkinson’s to access table tennis.

The first Worthing TTC Parkinson’s session on 8 October is free, giving people the opportunity to come along, meet the coaches and experience the session without any commitment.

For more information check out the club’s website or social media channels.