Table Tennis England has teamed up with WheelPower to launch a scheme to increase both the number and confidence of coaches with a physical disability in our sport.

The initiative gives clubs the opportunity to apply for funding of up to £1,000 to support those with a physical disability to become coaches and to provide CPD sessions to increase the confidence of already qualified coaches.

The work has been supported by funding from Sport England and WheelPower, CP Sport, LimbPower and Dwarf Sports Association UK.

Examples of what the funding can be used for are to provide a place on a Level 1 Session Coach course (£190 per person) or CPD sessions at £10 per person.

Clubs applying for funding must be located within a 40-mile radius of one of the following Spinal Injury Units:

• Middlesbrough
• Sheffield
• Pinderfields (Wakefield)
• Southport
• Oswestry
• Stoke Mandeville
• Stanmore
• Salisbury

Level 1 courses will take place from January, but applications must be put in to WheelPower in advance. The closing date for applications is 14 December.

Coaches can also complete the following CPD courses:

• Online Wheel Power Workshop
• A table tennis specific training/workshop delivered by Shaun Marples (British Para Table Tennis Pathway Manager) and Neil Robinson (British Para Table Tennis Coach). The first online session will take place the week commencing 17 February, 2023.

Emily Weller, Head of Sport and Physical Activity at Wheel Power, said of the partnership: “We’re excited to work with Table Tennis England to provide this opportunity for its members and coaches.”

Table Tennis England Coaching and Education Manager Aled Howell added: “It’s great to work in partnership with Wheel Power to provide further opportunities for our coaches and future coaches.

To apply for a grant, download an application form below.

Click here to find out more about how WheelPower is supporting players in table tennis. 

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