English Table Tennis Association Facilities Guidance Note

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English Table Tennis Association Facilities Guidance Note 2010-2013

Anyone can and does playtable tennis - everywhere

Contents

1 Background 21.1 Vision statement 3

1.2 Introduction• Facility development• Innovation (outdoor Table Tennis, social

media, workplace and youth clubs)

3

1.3 Sport England strategic outcomes 31.4 Strategy aims 31.5 Current provision of facilities 4

2 What facilities are needed? 62.1 ETTA club development model 72.2 Facility development options 82.3 Model design briefs 9

3 Why are these facilities needed? 93.1 Rationale 103.2 Community Club Development Programme

research11

3.3 Sport England satisfaction survey research 113.4 Achieving the Grow, Sustain & Excel outcomes

– Table Tennis facility case studies12

4 Where should facilities be located? 17

5 How could facilities be provided? 175.1 Funding for Table Tennis facilities 175.2 Application process 185.3 Application criteria 185.4 Eligibility criteria 185.5 Impact against Grow, Sustain and Excel 195.6 Sustainability 195.7 Ability to deliver 195.8 Additionality 205.9 ETTA decision making process 21

6 When will facilities be provided? 21

7 National Table Tennis Centre 21

8 Further information 21

9 Appendices 219.1 PremierClub summary 219.2 Outdoor Table Tennis case study 22

Acknowledgements

This publication was commissioned by the ETTA Facilities Panel. Following consultation with the Table Tennis community in February 2010 it was endorsed by the panel in April and published in August 2010.

English Table Tennis AssociationQueensbury House, Havelock Road, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 1HFT: 01424 722525 www.etta.co.uk [email protected]

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1 Background

Table Tennis is one of the world’s most popular sports with over 300 million participants in more than 200 countries affiliated to the International Table Tennis Federation. The sport is played across the whole of England in a wide range of venues and with an improvement in facility provision it has the potential to grow and strengthen.

The English Table Tennis Association’s Whole Sport Plan (2009-13) aims to increase the popularity of the sport, and improve how the sport is delivered in England.

Table Tennis

Fun & enjoyableWhether recreational or competitive it appeals to and engages across all age groups, races, genders, classes and abilities.

Olympic & Paralympic sportFast, dynamic and highly competitive; table tennis is a special blend of mental agility, subtle tactics and explosive power.

A sport for lifeAges 5-80+, health and fitness benefits for body and mind leading to prolonged participation.

Space efficient & versatileFour tables (up to 16 players) on a space equivalent to a badminton court. Can be played anywhere and everywhere (schools, workplace, community halls, sports clubs, etc).

Easy to startTable Tennis is quick to learn and see tangible improvement.

Helps to deliver government agendasNational Indicator 8 (adult participation in sport and active recreation), National Indicator 6 (participation in regular volunteering), National Indicator 57 (children and young people’s participation in high quality PE and sport).

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1.1 Vision statement

To develop opportunities for people to play Table Tennis at all levels in accessible and high quality places, and to secure the long term future of the sport through facility ownership or long lease.

1.2 Introduction

The ETTA facilities strategy makes the case for a comprehensive and cohesive framework for the development of sustainable facilities for the sport at national, regional, and local levels to support the delivery of Table Tennis across England. It has been developed through research and consultation throughout the ETTA by the Facilities Panel from a mandate by National Council, and it relates directly to the ETTA Whole Sport Plan 2009-13 facilities intervention.

The strategy has the following two distinct strands:

Facility development

The strategy will build on previous capital investment to increase the quality and quantity of Table Tennis facilities.

Innovation

To meet our strategic outcomes – Grow, Sustain and Excel - agreed with Sport England and the government we must innovate. Different facilities are needed in different areas to widen access and visibility of the sport.

ETTA will pilot four innovative projects:• Outdoor Table Tennis – participation opportunities

in London parks and open spaces

• Social media – e.g. creating participation opportunities in higher education.

• Workplace – providing participation opportunities in the workplace.

• Youth club – re-establishing lapsed traditional entry routes into the sport.

1.3 Sport England strategic outcomes

With limited capital funding available, the ETTA aims to work with clubs, leagues and external partners to make best use of the available resources, and ensure that ETTA funding is directed into projects that will have the largest impact on the three Sport England strategic outcomes of Grow, Sustain and Excel.

1.4 Strategy aims

The strategy aims to enable individuals and organisations to:1. Understand what facilities are required to enable the

ETTA to deliver government objectives.2. Understand and support the prioritisation of

investment to meet the needs of the sport through eligibility, deliverability (timing and ability to deliver strategic outcomes), sustainability (ability to operate effectively for years to come) and affordability (based on the levels of funding available from the ETTA and partnership funding sources).

3. Prioritise future investments to ensure that the right facilities are developed in the right place at the right time to deliver the right outcomes for the ETTA.

4. Obtain information on minimum standards of facility provision at all levels of the sport.

Cippenham Table Tennis Club (Slough) social/refresh-ment area with visible connection to playing hall

Outdoor Table Tennis helping deliver NI8 (increasing adult participation in sport and active recreation)

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The type of facilities required has a direct relationship to existing and future activities.

This strategy details some examples of good practice and considers the following issues:• What facilities are needed?• Why are these facilities needed?• Where should facilities be located?• How the facilities might be provided?• When facilities are to be provided?

1.5 Current provision of facilities

Table Tennis is, and can be, played in a wide variety of environments which is an advantage because it is easily set up but also a disadvantage as it is easily packed away therefore becoming invisible. Often the sport is made to put up with sub-standard facilities such as poor lighting, unsuitable floor covering or inappropriate wall colouring.

Bedfordshire

Buckinghamshire

Cambridgeshire

Cheshire

Cumbria

Derbyshire

Dorset

Durham

EastSussex

EssexGloucestershire

Hampshire

Hertfordshire

Kent

Lancashire

Leicestershire

Lincolnshire

Norfolk

Northamptonshire

NorthYorkshire

Nottinghamshire

Oxfordshire

Shropshire

Somerset

Staffordshire

Suffolk

Surrey

Warwickshire

WestSussex

Wiltshire

Worcestershire

Greater London Authority

Northumberland

Devon

Cornwall

Isles of Scilly

KnightonParkTTC

EllenboroughTTC

AshfordTTC

BarnetTT Centre

Ltd.

Carl PreanCentre, Isleof Wight

ColebridgeTTC

IlfracombeTTC

KingfisherTTC

OkehamptonTTC

St NeotsTTC

HalifaxTT Centre

HaltonTTC

HiltonTTC

HowardTTC

HullYPI TTCHyndburn

TTC

Keighley TT& Recreational Centre

KidlingtonForum TTC

King’sLynn TTCentre

Milton KeynesTTC

NorthfieldTTC

OrmesbyTTC

Clee Fieldssports hall

PrestonTTC

St AustellTTC

Scarborough TTPremierClub

ScunthorpeSports Club

SycamoreTTC

WatersideTTC

WestfieldTTC

WoodfieldTTC Wood Green HS TTC

GreatWyrley TTC

AbbeydalePark TTC

Barrow &District TTCentre

BATTS

Bournemouth Sports Club

Burton UxbridgeTTC

CippenhamTTC

PortsmouthTTC

DewsburyLeague TTCentre

Draycott& Long

Eaton TTC

Generation2 TTC

GrahamSpicerTTC

Hitchen TT Centre

Table Tennis facilities categorised by long lease or ownership.

© Crown copyright. All rights reserved Sport England 100033111 2010.

Sport England, Victoria House, Bloomsbury Square, London, WC1B 4SE

Drawn by: Mark CritchleyReference: 0080MC

Tel: 020 7273 1514Email: [email protected]

Date: 30th April 2010Version: 2 (Final)

LegendETTA Clubs 2010Type

Long Lease

Ownership

Regions

Current provision (2010) of Table Tennis facilities characterised by long lease or ownership

LegendFacility type

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The table below illustrates the variety of environments where Table Tennis is played.

The Central Council of Physical Recreation (CCPR) survey of sports clubs 2009 indicates that 67% of Table Tennis clubs hire a facility, only 9% own a facility and 21% lease a facility. It could be concluded from this that two thirds of Table Tennis clubs hire facilities, have limited control and therefore uncertainty about their future.

Local authority (sports/leisure centres, community centres)

Some clubs share facilities with other sports (such as other sports hall based sports), rarely as part of the same organisation, but as a stand-alone club with a separate committee. A lack of security of tenure or a robust community use agreement places uncertainty and pressure on clubs. Investment into these sites can ensure longer terms of tenure and better security for the club.

Schools Often short term (three years?) school-club agreements with limited long term security of tenure. Club based and/or school delivered after school activity is common throughout the country. Provision within this sector may be significantly enhanced through the Building Schools for the Future programme where outdoor table tennis tables are encouraged as part of a core outdoor/playground specification.

Workplace venues Formerly one of the most popular locations for league team Table Tennis though restrictive for other activities. Workplace venues have declined in parallel to the decline of the manufacturing industry, increased building security and loss of social areas. An ETTA ‘workplace’ whole sport plan intervention will aim to address this.

Higher and further education

Either as part of a formal student run club or in a social capacity, Table Tennis is played within HE and FE venues.

Outdoors An ideal entry level to Table Tennis within the local community, there is an increasing number of outdoor tables in use in England particularly on school sites. Provision in parks and open spaces is under way with a pilot project in London. Outdoor Table Tennis is very popular and visible on the continent.

Home The sport is an ideal activity for domestic homes particularly with the availability of mini and midi size tables. Garages, play rooms, basements and gardens are commonly used recreationally.

Holiday parks and camp sites

Widely played and enjoyed as a casual/recreational activity although in the past it has been a well known, organised activity (competition and coaching) at Butlins and Pontins holiday parks.

Keighley Table Tennis Club open evening demonstration

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2 What facilities are needed?

Facility requirements are driven by clubs and the people that operate within them. Table Tennis needs improved access to improved facilities with a corresponding increase in the number and quality of people to deliver the sport.

Within its Whole Sport Plan 2009-13, the ETTA has identified a desire to develop specialist facilities for local, regional and national level use principally guided by PremierClub - the ETTA national programme for club development. PremierClub is directly aligned to CLUBMARK – the Sport England national cross sport accreditation scheme.

PremierClub provides a framework for club development leading to participation/membership growth, volunteer

and talent development spanning all three Grow, Sustain and Excel outcomes. Typically PremierClubs should have a varied playing programme with good multi-table facility access and a volunteer base that allows for development, growth and sustainability. PremierClub ‘Ability’ is part of PremierClub and is designed to provide opportunities for disabled players and to provide disability awareness training within clubs.

Club development is significantly enhanced where a social/meeting/refreshment area has a visible connection to the playing hall.

The development of a variety of types of facilities can make a difference and contribute to achieving the strategic outcomes (2009-13 Table Tennis grow target = 16,000 adults (16+) playing more Table Tennis). To assist the achievement of this target the development of appropriate facilities is critical. The PremierClub Information & Criteria leaflet details requirements for people, places and programmes at each PremierClub level, see Appendix 9.1.

Ellenborough Table Tennis Club (Enfield) bar/serveryEllenborough Table Tennis Club - social area with a

visible connection to playing hall

English Open, Sheffield 2009, early morning set-up

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2.1 English Table Tennis Association Club Development Model

The diagram below illustrates the ETTA club development model and demonstrates the connection between the two strategy strands - facility development and innovation.

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10Regional

Performance Clubsbased in

PremierClub (Excellence)

PremierClub (Excellence)

PremierClub (Advanced)

PremierClub (Participation)

Premier Clubmark ClubsTable Tennis Clubs (non PremierClubs)

Entry routes into ‘organised’ table tennis(schools, youth clubs, community centres, holiday centres)

‘Grow’ innovation pilot projects(outdoor table tennis, social media, workplace, youth clubs)

ETTANationalCentre

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2.2 Facility development options

Experience and research from previous projects demonstrates that there are four main options Table Tennis facility development can take - each one can have an impact on participation, satisfaction of members and talent development. Historically, Table Tennis has been a ‘parasitic’ sport utilising other (often under used) sports facilities. Provided that technical specifications are adhered to, this can be a very cost effective method of provision.

1) Upgrade – equipment, lighting, flooring, heating/ventilation, social/refreshment/storage areas, changing, and security of tenure

(small – moderate ETTA investment up to £30,000 – minimum five year security of tenure)

2) Conversion – change of use of an existing building to meet table tennis playing hall and ancillary facilities specifications, and to achieve long lease (21+ years) or preferably freehold

(moderate – large ETTA investment £30,000 – £150,000)

The four main types of facility development options are:

NB. Investment figures are an approximate guide only

3) Bolt on – new playing hall ‘bolted on’ to an existing facility and sharing existing ancillary facilities with long lease

(moderate – large ETTA investment £30,000 – £150,000)

4) Stand alone/new build – purpose built to Table Tennis specifications with long lease (21+ years) or preferably freehold

(large ETTA investment £150,000+)

Disabled squad training in Northern General Hospital, Sheffield

Halton Table Tennis Club (Runcorn, Cheshire) table configuration for British League matches

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2.3 Model design briefs

Model table tennis facility design – illustrating critical factor of visible connection between social/meeting area and playing hall.

3 Why are these facilities needed?

There is a current lack of suitable Table Tennis venues.Over a 30 year period the table tennis venue infrastructure has drastically reduced in capacity and the majority of venues had and still have lack of space (only one table), lack of ancillary areas (meeting/social, refreshments, office, changing rooms, showers, toilets,

etc), limited availability and limited or lack of security of tenure.

67% of clubs hire their facility and therefore do not have control over it; this can restrict the potential to grow participation and increase levels of satisfaction for players and volunteers.

These briefs are indicative only. Figures given are not intended to be either the minimum or maximum required but rather a starting point for each scheme to identify its priorities and define its needs in detail. All schemes will have to meet statutory requirements, which will vary from scheme to scheme and may differ from figures shown above, as well as design standards for playing court sizes, flooring, lighting, etc

4 table centre 6 table centre 9 table centre Notes Playing area: 4 tables at Grade 3 (or 6

for practice at Grade 4 or 2 at grade 2)Minimum area 22m x 12m

6 tables at Grade 3 (or 9 for practice or 3 at grade 2)Minimum area 22m x 18m or 32m x 12m

9 tables at Grade 3 (or 16 for practice or 5 at Grade 2)Based on 33m x 18m (standard ‘4 court’ sports hall)

Toilets: Male: 1 wc + 2 urinals + 1 basinFemale: 2 wcs + 1 basinDisabled: 1 standard cubicle*

Male: 2 wcs + 3 urinals + 2 basinsFemale: 3 wcs + 2 basinsDisabled: 1 standard cubicle*

Male: 2 wcs + 4 urinals + 3 basinsFemale: 3 wcs + 2 basinsDisabled: 2 standard cubicles*

* Subject to local authority requirements. Disabled toilet and changing provision could be combined

Changing**: Male: 15 changing + 3 showersFemale: 15 changing + 3 showers Disabled: 1 changing and shower cubicle*

Male: 20 changing + 5 showersFemale: 20 changing + 5 showers Disabled: 1 changing and shower cubicle*

Male: 32 changing + 8 showersFemale: 32 changing + 8 showers Disabled: 2 changing and shower cubicles*

** The number of changing spaces shown are likely to be the maximum required for table tennis use alone and analysis of anticipated demand may support a reduction.

Entrance area: 10m² 15m² 30m²Reception: 5m² 5m² 10m², access to officeOffice/event management room

5m² 5m² 10m²

Equipment store: 10m² 20m² 30m²Social area: 30m² 40m² 60m²Meeting room: 10m² - could be divisible

part of social area15m² - could be divisible part of social area

20m²

Kitchen: 5m² with servery to social area

10m² with servery to social area

15m² with servery to social area

First aid: First aid box in office First aid box in office First aid box in officeCleaner’s store: With bucket sink With bucket sink With bucket sinkCar parking: 15 spaces, including 2

disabled bays35 spaces, including 4 disabled bays and 20 overflow spaces

40 spaces, including 5 disabled bays and 30 overflow spaces

Subject to local authority requirements

Design considerations:

Bar serving into social area (could be combined with kitchen).Additional storage to kitchen/bar and general areas.Additional capacity: toilets, changing, social area, parking, etc

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3.2 Community Club Development Programme (CCDP) objectives

• To assist in creating a sustainable and financially viable sports club infrastructure in England that links with schools, provides appropriate support and pathways for identifying and developing talented individuals, and meets the needs of communities

• To increase club membership levels and to support the development of quality assured ‘junior’ sections

• To increase club membership among women, black and other ethnic groups and people with disabilities

CCDP research

Analysis of project evaluation returns (2009) of Table Tennis facilities funded through the Community Club Development Programme clearly demonstrates that facility investment delivers significant growth of participants, members and volunteers. These increases are due to improvements to playing areas, ancillary facilities such as refreshment and social areas, offices and changing.

3.1 Rationale - facilities and playing environments

Clearly to enable a wider range of Table Tennis activity and to improve levels of participant satisfaction in an increasingly competitive leisure market place, high quality venues are needed offering multi-table playing areas, social and ancillary facilities, good access and crucially longer term security of tenure.

Ormesby Table Tennis Club (Middlesbrough)

Paul Drinkhall, England internationalfrom Ormesby Table Tennis Club

Ormesby Table Tennis Club club night & elite training

Ormesby Table Tennis Club fitness roomOrmesby Table Tennis Club school session

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Community Club Development Programme 2003-08 Research

Before CCDP After CCDP Increase % increase

Total active members 640 906 266 42%

Female active members 123 160 37 30%

Male active members 552 746 194 35%

Active members 0-15 202 311 109 54%

Active members 16+ 436 664 228 52%

Disabled active members 27 41 14 52%

Black & Minority Ethnic groups (BME) active members 104 131 27 26%

Socially disadvantaged members 56 128 72 129%

Total participants 2,730 5,815 3,085 113%

Female participants 643 1,502 859 134%

Male participants 2,087 4,313 2,226 107%

Participants 0-15 1,080 2,541 1,461 135%

Participants 16+ 1,660 3,270 1,610 97%

Disabled participants 119 290 171 144%

BME participants 574 973 399 70%

Socially disadvantaged members 155 870 715 461%

Total volunteers 121 167 46 38%

Female volunteers 22 39 17 77%

Male volunteers 99 128 29 29%

Volunteers 0-15 4 5 1 25%

CCDP partnership funding Of the total project costs (£4,876,000) 40% partnership funding was achieved.

3.3 Sport England satisfaction survey reseach

Sport England strategy 2008-11 stated that a key outcome will be increasing participation in NGB-accredited clubs to a third of all 5-16 year olds by 2010 – the development of specialist Table Tennis facilities will assist this.

The Sport England satisfaction with the quality of the sporting experience survey (SQSE) suggests that sustaining levels of participation is directly related to levels of enjoyment which in turn is impacted by the quality of sporting experience. Survey results published in July 2009 provide specific Table Tennis data on what is important to people when they play Table Tennis and opinions of their current quality of Table Tennis experience.

Burton/Uxbridge Table Tennis Club (Staffordshire) - 14 table school tournament set up

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3.4 Achieving the Grow, Sustain & Excel outcomes - Table Tennis facility case studies

The following case studies are provided as model examples of how clubs have successfully developed their facilities and the impact that this has had on provision. They aim to help potential schemes make the case for projects by demonstrating the impact projects of all scales have had on delivering increased participation.

To measure ‘satisfaction’, survey respondents (participant/club member/talent pool) scored a series of questions within ten domains. Facilities and playing environment is one such domain.

The SQSE survey showed the attributes that have the highest impact on overall satisfaction for Table Tennis players are:

• The quality of equipment = tables, nets, surrounds• The quality of the surfaces = floor• The quality of lighting = lights• The heating and ventilation = don’t like cold venues!• The quality of the non-sport facilities = social,

changing, catering, parking

The availability of high quality child care facilities has a medium impact on overall satisfaction.

These findings indicate that investment in refurbishment/improvement grants for lighting, flooring, heating and ancillary facilities will make a big difference to overall satisfaction of Table Tennis players.

Relative importance of and satisfaction with table tennis facilities and playing

environment (SQSE July 2009)

Scoring 1-10 (1 = low) Importance Satisfaction

General participants 7.8 7.6

Affiliated club members 8.2 7.4

Talent pool 8 7.1

Ease of participation

The SQSE survey showed the attributes that have the highest impact on overall satisfaction for Table Tennis players are:

• Being able to take part without being interrupted or disturbed by members of the public

• Being able to take part at places that were not overcrowded

• Time it took me to get to the places where I play• Being able to participate/compete at a time that

was convenient to me• The ease with which I could balance my sporting,

work, family or education commitments• The ease of making a booking when I participated• The commitment and punctuality of other people

within Table Tennis

These findings indicate that investment in facilities for table tennis can make a big difference to overall satisfaction of Table Tennis players.

In addition, the provision of more facilities for Table Tennis will create additional sustainable, playing opportunities that will contribute to the Grow, Sustain and Excel outcomes.

Ellenborough Table Tennis Club - view from social area into playing hall

Joanna Parker, England international

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What did the club do?

• Formed in a community centre in 2007 with support from a £6,460 lottery grant from Awards for All.

• Reached saturation in spring 2009 with 60 members.• Identified Keighley Business Centre (formerly a

textile mill) as a possible new home.• Set up a community interest company (Keighley

TTC) and achieved Key Fund Yorkshire grant/loan support package to take out 15 year lease of second floor totalling 9,000ft.

• Achieved CLUBMARK.• Refurbished derelict mill in 2009 – clearing out,

plastering, painting, re-wiring, etc. into an 8 table competition (15 table coaching) venue with social area, toilets and changing.

• Although Keighley TTC is a separate entity to Haworth Hawks TTC it is the club home.

How much did it cost (2009)?

• £20,000 (labour costs kept to a minimum through volunteer effort and dedication).

What difference did it make to the club?

• Put the club on a sound financial footing by developing income streams from catering, refreshments and sub-letting of space to other community groups.

• Made the club more accessible being located close to the town centre and transport links.

• Allowed the club to massively expand.• Unrestricted 24/7 access allows members access

to comfortable lounge area, bar and toilets.

How did the investment contribute to the ETTA and Sport England strategic outcomes?

• Grow – instant membership growth from 60–75 (including 7 teams in Keighley & District League).

• Sustain – refurbished playing hall and social/refreshment area has had a positive effect on player and spectator visits.

• Excel – though not an initial priority, player pathways and talent development will be a natural progression of having access to facilities 24/7.

‘Take a look at what the centre really looks like by going on YouTube under Keighley Table Tennis Centre’.

Facility Type: Upgrade/conversion Club Name: Haworth Hawks TTC Website: www.keighleytabletennis.co.uk Location: Keighley, Yorkshire

Table Tennis facility case study

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• Bid for and secured 25 year lease for a redundant, loss making local authority recreation building (Norman Booth Centre) in 2006.

• Achieved Community Club Development funding (CCDP) from Sport England via ETTA.

• Converted and refurbished the centre to Table Tennis specifications (12 court playing hall with new semi-sprung floor, social area with viewing gallery into the playing hall, disability access including a lift, fully fitted kitchen, changing, office and storage).

• Appointed a full-time Regional Disability, Club Support & Coaching Officer in conjunction with ETTA and Mark Hall School Sports Partnership.

• Advertised the premises and secured bookings to hire out the facility to local community groups.


• £212,000 (Sport England Community Club Development Fund £110k; Essex Community. Initiative Fund 40k, and Harlow Recreation Trust 62k).


• Secured the long term future of the club by putting it on a sound financial footing through sub-letting policy to include Table Tennis and other sporting activities.

• New and additional facilities have made the club feel like a true ‘club’ in the sense that members and participants have a high quality and welcoming environment (evidenced through retention of existing and increase of new members and new participants, popularity/sales of refreshments).

“This has been one of the most significant impacts. Feedback has been amazingly positive especially when you consider the club’s lack of experience in contributing to a major building project. Some fine partners (notably Paul Baker at the ETTA) ensured that the final outcome was just about spot on in terms of customer satisfaction! To understand this fully, one has to contrast the bright new changing rooms, gleaming kitchen and open plan social area with the dank, dirty, claustrophobic facilities that had seen no investment for 25 years. On the playing area a new floor, lighting and tables has made BATTS the venue of choice for hosting a huge array of local, county, regional and national events.” Neil Brierley, BATTS Secretary.

Facility Type: ConversionClub Name: BATTS Website: www.batts.org.uk Location: Harlow, Essex


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• Expanded the club playing programme to include beginner/schools coaching, regional performance training, grass roots and high level competitions.

• Attracted more helpers/volunteers (50% increase from 8 to 12) and put in place a strategy to strengthen the club volunteer infrastructure.

• Increased the club profile in the local community and beyond through club success (club of the year, Harlow, Essex, East region) and up to 35 lettings to local groups per week.


• Grow – 15% increase of Table Tennis participants to date from 228 to 255. Although primarily designed for Table Tennis, the club facilities provide a venue for six other sports including martial arts, football, badminton, short mat bowls, volleyball, dance, sailing clubs and even children’s birthday parties, driving around 450 people through the centre in a typical week.

• Sustain – improved facilities that have led to increased levels of player and volunteer satisfaction.

“The clean, modern and welcoming atmosphere of the new venue with its large voluntary run cafeteria and open plan social area means we retain and attract groups through word of mouth and through a large local publicity effort.” Neil Brierley, BATTS Secretary

• Excel – the club is able to deliver a progressive coaching programme and player pathway from beginners through to regional training. With a full- time Regional Disability, Club Support & Coaching Officer in post at the time of writing the club expects 1) a stream of young people to come through from the local schools, 2) new adult and junior disability sessions, 3) to draw in adult players from the county and also parts of east London.

Anyone can and does play table tennis - everywhere

15


• Achieved funding for a purpose built, nine court competition (15 for coaching) Table Tennis centre with a 60 year lease on Westgate School site (grant maintained).

• Moved in 1996 from a two night a week + Sunday coaching at Haymill Community Centre to a five night a week + weekend large scale club with 231 members (2009).

• Set up Cippenham Table Tennis Centre Ltd to run the building and safeguard Cippenham TTC which runs the activities.


• £520,000 (Lottery sports fund £277,000, Funding Agency for Schools £105,000, Sports Council £30,000, Slough Borough Council £8,000, Westgate School £20,000, ETTA (Foundation for Sports & the Arts) £70,000, Cippenham TTC £10,000).


• Enabled the club to fulfil its ambitions to grow its members and activities achieved through improved access to a large, good quality playing hall and ancillary facilities allowing expansion of coaching and competition programmes.

• Allowed the club to generate income from membership and playing fees, tournament entry fees, external hiring and catering. The club is on an exceptionally sound financial footing.

• Provides 35 volunteers with a more worthwhile experience and satisfaction of running the club.

• The club lounge (social area) and servery provides a comfortable and welcoming environment with refreshments and some child care provision that has improved the satisfaction of the Table Tennis experience for all club visitors (players, officials, spectators, parents).

• The club has a high profile and excellent reputation for running local, county, regional and national competitive opportunities and volunteer training.


• Grow – participant throughput has grown from approximately 2,000 in 1996 to approximately 7,500 in 2009. Upon relocation to the new centre, club membership immediately increased from 60 to 153 and currently (2010) stands at 231 (throughput of 100 player visits per week).

• Sustain – the design of the facilities has been crucial to improving the quality of the Cippenham Table Tennis experience and player satisfaction - the visible connection between the lounge and playing hall being fundamental here in creating a ‘club atmosphere’ where sport and social meet.

• Excel – the club provides the facilities, competition, coaching and support that enables talent development, evidenced through the current playing programme and production of 14 ‘home grown’ national champions since moving to the table tennis centre. Additionly two players have won Commonwealth, European and World titles.

Facility Type: Bolt on/new buildClub Name: Cippenham TTCWebsite: www.cippenhamttc.co.ukLocation: Slough, Buckinghamshire


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4 Where should facilities be located?

Table Tennis is played nationwide and facility development can be justified across the country. However the ETTA Whole Sport Plan identified a London focus for Sport England investment to develop projects that will capitalise on London 2012 legacy and interest generated in schools through Greenhouse* that fill a gap of facility provision in the capital city.

*Greenhouse helps young people living in deprived communities develop positive life skills through sport and performing arts. They target those who may not otherwise have access to these opportunities, working in state secondary schools, special schools and community clubs. More than 5,000 young people every week develop life skills through Table Tennis in schools and community clubs across London and Wales.

In addition to London, ETTA will consider applications from other areas that can help deliver local area agreements (in particular NI 8 adult participation in

sport and active recreation), show evidence of a need - latent demand or market segmentation (Active People data) AND significantly demonstrate that the volunteer infrastructure is in place to sustain the proposed facility.

The ETTA regional club & facility project registers devised in 2008 by Regional Development Officers have identified up to 100 potential facility projects. Registers can be regularly updated and for projects to be considered the project team must work with the ETTA Regional Development Managers to develop their project in line with the application process.

ETTA is particularly keen to develop Table Tennis facilities on school sites and utilise under used/redundant buildings.

5 How could facilities be provided?

5.1 Funding for Table Tennis facilities

The ETTA has a capital facilities allocation available of £2m to cover the period 2009-13. There is a commitment with Sport England that ETTA capital investment must deliver partnership funding at least pound for pound which could come from a number of different national and local sources including the following: Building Schools for the Future, county councils, local authorities, schools, local sources of funding and club funds.

ETTA has a long term aspiration to create at least one Table Tennis facility capable of operating at PremierClub – Excellence level (minimum 24 hours per week, 40 weeks of the year) in each local authority area.

Ellenborough Table Tennis Club

Shop-ping Pong!

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5.2 Application process

Applications for funding will open in late 2010 and each project should be able to satisfy the following prior to applying to ETTA for funding:

• Can the project demonstrate a local/regional/national strategic need?

• Is the project working with the ETTA Regional Development Manager?

• Is the local authority aware of and involved in the project?

• Is the project working with any other youth and community groups or sports?

• Is the project an accredited PremierClub?• Can the project provide an adequate level of

partnership funding?• Can the project demonstrate the ability to deliver

within a limited timescale?

Projects must demonstrate a robust ‘needs and evidence’ base which underpins the project, demonstrate strong partnerships which will last beyond the initial development of the project, and thereby contributing to the long term sustainability of the project.

5.3 Application criteria for ETTA financial support

ETTA anticipates receiving more applications for projects that it is able to fund. Bids will be competitive and will be assessed using two sets of criteria: 1) eligibility 2) impact against outcomes, sustainability, deliverability and additionality.

5.4 Eligibility criteria

Applicants will need to demonstrate they meet the following criteria to be eligible for ETTA Whole Sport Plan capital funding:

• Applicant organisation must be entitled to receive public funding, e.g. sports club, voluntary or community organisation, local authority and education establishment such as school, college and university.

• Project benefits all sections of the local community.• Request funding for the development of capital

infrastructure, which can be taken to contribute to the costs of new build, conversion, bolt on, upgrades (where not previously in receipt of government funding) and major fixed equipment where it is an integral part of a project.

• Not include costs of non-fixed equipment for personal use.

Park ping pong on permanent table in Charlton Park, Greenwich, London(notice outdoor gym with wifi in background)

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• Request funding for elements of a capital project which has not yet started on site.

• Be based on a site where the applicant holds ownership or long term leasehold, or is in a position to negotiate this within the terms of this award.

• Confirmed partnership funding from at least one third party including possibly the private sector.

• Be able to evidence/provide revenue funding which is confirmed to demonstrate the long term sustainability of the project (revenue funding cannot be applied for as part of this ETTA funding).

5.5 Impact against Grow, Sustain and Excel

Applications must show how the proposed investment will contribute to at least one of Sport England’s strategic outcomes of Grow, Sustain and Excel.

Good applications will provide clear evidence of:

• Specific benefits of the project and quantify the impact on Grow, Sustain and/or Excel.

• A clearly articulated vision of not only what the project wants to achieve but also how and why.

• Links to local, regional and national priorities that the project will help to address for the area such as National Indicator 8 (NI 8), local area agreements and/or local community issues.

• A clear contribution to the priorities identified within the ETTA’s strategic plans in consultation with a Regional Development Manager.

• Synergy with any existing provision to ensure there is no duplication, particularly through rationalisation and working with other capital investment programmes taking place within the local area (e.g. Building Schools for the Future).

5.6 Sustainability

Applications must evidence the need and demand for the facility to ensure Sport England’s strategic outcomes are achieved and the facility is maintained to a high standard.


• A real need and demand in the community for sports facilities and ideally sharing a site or co-locating with other community services and private

sector activities. This could be done through a supply and demand needs analysis, community surveys, Active People and Active Places data or highlighting a fit with wider capital planning strategies.

• Using the need and demand analysis to scope, plan and shape the project.

• A sustainable business plan which combines capital, revenue, public and private resources to support the facility’s sustainability including sports development initiatives and lifecycle costs.

• Agreements with key partners that show the necessary revenue to support sports development work and facility life-cycle costs is ring fenced in the long term.

• How value for money considerations such as multi-use of facilities by sports, co-location with other agencies or building on established facilities and or expertise has shaped the project.

• Established partnership working between the organisations involved which will last beyond the lifetime of this application.

• Priority may be given to applications that work with commercial or other partner organisations to create a dowry to fund and sustain future operation of the facility.

5.7 Ability to deliver

Applications should clearly show that they are in a position to undertake the capital build and draw down funding in a specified period between 2009 and 2013. Due to the nature of the funding, it must be spent within the year awarded.

Table Tennis is all embracing and fully inclusive

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• A detailed project plan for delivery of the facilities from inception to completion with realistic milestones.

• Project and risk management structures in place that will mitigate risks to ensure successful delivery.

• Consideration of viability and risk factors associated with other sources of funding and, if awarded exchequer funding through this process, ability to draw down the grant in a specified financial year.

• Approvals where relevant, including planning permission, if already obtained.

• Architectural drawings already developed, ideally to RIBA Stage D or equivalent, if already obtained.

• Procurement strategy and delivery mechanism which use established routes where available – or have good reasons for not doing so.

5.8 Additionality

Applications must state the level of funding that has been attracted from other sources to maximise the impact of this limited investment fund. Applications will also state how resources from ETTA’s fund will make a difference to the project, facilitating genuinely sustainable community sports facilities, rather than a simple declaration of the need for more money. The ETTA will take into account the cost of the project as a whole, the size of grant being requested and the number of people who will benefit from the project.


• Funding from other sources already obtained or confirmed in writing.

• How the project is setting best practice standards that can be replicated elsewhere.

• How the ETTA’s funding will facilitate a genuinely sustainable community sports facility, rather than a simple declaration of the need for more money.

• Priority will be given to applications that deliver NI 8 (increasing the percentage of people who take

part in sport and active recreation) as part of their local area agreement in partnership with their local authority.

Park ping pong in Dulwich park - the smile indicates pure enjoyment!

Outdoors at Wood Green High School, West Mid-lands (canopy extends playing time in all weathers,

day and night using floodlights!)

UK School Games (Individual Disability Championships - wheelchair)

Grow

Sustain

Excel

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7 National Table Tennis Centre

The ETTA has an aspiration to own the freehold or long lease of its own headquarters which may include a training hall and administration base for the Association. Additional options may include meeting space, accommodation, a museum and retail outlet(s) – design brief to be developed, interested parties please contact the ETTA Chief Executive.

8 Further information

• www.etta.co.uk• Regional club and facility project registers – held by

Regional Development Managers• Table Tennis facility guidance note (technical

specifications)

9 Appendices

9.1 PremierClub summary

What is PremierClub?

PremierClub is the English Table Tennis Association’s national programme for club development, designed to help new and existing Table Tennis clubs. It has been developed to:• create an integrated network of clubs - working in

groups supporting each other• provide a nationwide support structure for talent

identification and development• be central to the implementation of the ETTA

Development Plan• align with Sport England’s CLUBMARK programme.

PremierClub helps to strengthen the club structure and leads to:• larger, better organised clubs, with increased

membership• clubs that are welcoming and accessible to all• increased playing opportunities• better competitive opportunities• better playing and social facilities• stronger and more successful England teams• more and better trained coaches, administrators

and officials.For the latest information and criteria refer to www.etta.co.uk

Breakdown of Sport England capital award

2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13

£ 300,000 250,000 750,000 700,000

The ETTA will work closely with applicants to support them through the application process. The application process is incredibly robust as the funding is public money, and the ETTA has to follow strict guidelines for its distribution, and for management of all awards made. The ETTA has to demonstrate that funding decisions were made for the right reasons, and this investment criteria addresses that.

ETTA will solicit bids via its regional development workforce with priority given to schemes that are featured in ETTA regional club and facilities registers.

Each applicant organisation will be required to submit a thorough application form and associated paperwork (such as business plan, constitution, community usage agreements, evidence of lease, etc).

5.9 Decision making process

ETTA Facilities Panel will make recommendations for investment on projects to Management Committee. Decisions will be made in line with the investment criteria as detailed above.Facilities Panel is scheduled to meet up to four times a year.

6 When will facilities be provided?

The ETTA received a funding allocation from Sport England, and they provided the following breakdown. This provides restrictions around levels of funding the ETTA has available in any given year.

Popularity of outdoor tables in schools has soared

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9.2 Outdoor Table Tennis case studies

Four outdoor, permanent, concrete table tennis tables have been installed in Dulwich Park, London SE21, near to the children’s playgrounds and the outdoor gym. The tables are free to play on as part of Sport England and the English Table Tennis Association’s strategy to introduce the sport and raise its public profile to more people as a fun, easy to play, healthy activity.

The first few weeks saw literally hundreds of users ranging from toddlers to grandmothers, young professional tykes and even a pregnant lady – proving that this sport is appealing to all and compelling to most who come back time and again for more!

The tables have arrived... let the people play!

During the May 2010 community fair, 1 park + 4 table tennis tables + 8 bats = 130 players over a 4 hour period.

Park Ping Pong - “free n’easy”, healthy & active!

Dulwich Park has a high visitor count of locals and people who travel to enjoy the park. Here are some reactions of the public:

“It’s a great idea because everyone can play, but not everyone has a garden or a garage to put up a table” Man with young daughter

“We’ve been down every night since they were installed and sometimes you have to queue to get on. One night it was so busy we didn’t even get to play!” Man with son

“We are quickly proving that where there is access to tables, bats and balls, there are no barriers and people play; it’s really as simple as that!”Diccon Gray - Development Manager at ETTA

“the outdoor Table Tennis is fantastic and has exceeded our expectations; it is part of our new offer of park activities contributing to NI8 – raising levels of adult participation in sport and physical recreation”. Paul Highman - Dulwich Area Park Manager

“It’s brilliant, as soon as we saw the tables, we went off to buy some cheap bats. We’re regular players now” Father of family of four

Further details: www.etta.co.uk/outdoortabletennis

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The tables have arrived.....let the people play!

Four permanent concrete outdoor Table Tennis tables have been installed in Rosemary Gardens, Islington, London N1, to complement the park provision of football, tennis and children’s play.

The tables are free to play on as part of Sport England and the English Table Tennis Association’s strategy to introduce the sport and raise it’s public profile to more people as a fun, easy to play, and healthy activity.

Well located, next to the tennis courts, adjacent to high rise housing and a primary school, the tables are proving popular with locals.

“We are quickly proving that where there is access to tables, bats and balls, there are no barriers and people play; it’s really as simple as that!”Diccon Gray - Development Manager at ETTA

Further details: www.etta.co.uk/outdoortabletennis

“Loaning out the Table Tennis bats helps to break down barriers between park staff and park users particularly with some of the youth gangs who can be intimidating at times. When they come to the park office we get to talk to them and this can help to build respect and reduce conflict” Richard - park keeper

“It’s early days, but so far the outdoor Table Tennis has been a great success. It’s easy to provide and unusually offers an activity for all ages that isn’t normally available” Noel Headon - Leisure Manager, London Borough of Islington

Park Ping Pong -

getting people active, breaking down barriers and reducing conflict

In Rosemary Gardens not only are the tables being actively used by different types of people, having a bat loan system provided by the park keepers has started to achieve social as well as sporting outcomes.

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Notes

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English Table Tennis Association

Queensbury House, Havelock Road, Hastings, East Sussex TN34 1HFT: 01424 722525 E: [email protected] W: etta.co.uk

Documents

English Table Tennis Association Facilities Guidance Note