Ping! the Public

Sport England’s new fund for public ping pong tables

Ping! is a recreational table tennis initiative which has brought a surge of new interest to the game.  Funded by Sport England, the idea behind Ping! is to take the sport to where large numbers of people can enjoy playing regularly – installing tables across city landmarks, from museums to motorway cafes, stations to shopping centres, parks to local estates.  The tables are free for everyone to use and enjoy.

The project has taken place in London, Birmingham and Hull to date and now, to extend the reach of Ping!, Sport England are making new funding available by setting aside £250,000 of lottery funding to pay for public ping pong tables.  The Ping! the Public fund will enable all kinds of social enterprises and community organisations to bid for funds to host a public table.

“We’d like to see ping pong tables popping up everywhere – from village greens to university canteens, city squares to community centres.” says Sport England.  “We welcome applications from a range of not-for-profit organisations – city councils to the scouts, youth clubs to older people’s day centres.  The important thing is for any organisation applying for a Ping! package to demonstrate that the tables will be well used.”

• Why be part of Ping! the Public? Ping pong makes people happy – planting tables in public spaces encourages passers by to spontaneously join in, bringing people together through sport and making people smile!
• Ping pong is popular – it’s the second most popular sport in the world and attracts people of all ages and backgrounds
• Ping pong is good for you and makes exercise fun – it boosts heart rate, stamina and co-ordination
• Ping pong is easy – people of all ages and abilities can enjoy playing and even a complete novice can enjoy the game

Who can apply for funding?

The fund will be open to a wide range of partners, both large and small.  Youth centres, community groups, schools, universities, museums, historic houses and city councils may all apply.  The only criteria is that you are a not-for-profit organisation applying for a table that will benefit your local community.

Because Sport England aims to increase sports participation by adults, at least 50% of your project beneficiaries will need to be over the age of 14.

What is meant by a public table?

A public table is one that can be enjoyed by a wide range of groups, including shared community interest groups.  It doesn’t need to be open to the general public but it does need to benefit your local community in some way.

What does the grant actually pay for?

There are two grants available:

• £3,000 Outdoor Ping! package – ideal for parks, colleges, universities, housing associations and hospitals to locate up to two permanent/semi permanent indoor or outdoor tables
• £350 Indoor Ping! package – ideal from clubs, community groups and village halls to provide a single indoor rollaway table for their members.

Each package includes resources, which will guide you through getting started, marketing, and delivery.

The registering your interest form is now CLOSED.

For an informal chat about Ping! the Public, please contact your Local Regional Development Manager or e-mail questions to: [email protected]

If you did not get your entry in for the Ping! Package but would like to be considered for future projects of a similar nature please leave your contact details below and when a new opportunity arises we will take you into consideration.

Thank You.