Table Tennis England has adopted Bounce Alzheimer’s Therapy (BAT) as its charity for the next 12 months.

The two organisations will work together to raise awareness and funds for the charity, which is the health and wellbeing charitable arm of Bounce Ping Pong Limited.

Table Tennis England will encourage clubs and other organisations we work with to support and raise funds for BAT as well.

BAT’s mission is to deliver table tennis equipment and drug-free therapy programmes, including resources and training, to organisations which specialise in dementia and Alzheimer’s care.

The charity has worked with equipment manufacturer Butterfly to develop a prototype table fitted with side panels to maximise playability for those with Alzheimer’s

Alongside that, BAT is committed to generating clinical research into the benefits of regular table tennis play on those living with dementia.

Table Tennis England Chief Executive Sara Sutcliffe said: “We are delighted to name BAT as our first charity partner.

“The charity is doing pioneering and exciting work to help establish a positive link between playing table tennis and successful dementia therapy and we support that wholeheartedly.

“This very much complements our purpose to encourage active lifestyles through table tennis and to make ours a sport, for all, for life.

“We look forward to a fruitful 12 months ahead in partnership with BAT.”

BAT Foundation’s Andrew Battley said: “BAT are delighted to be named as Table Tennis England’s first charity partner.

“The support of Table Tennis England and their encouragement of our work throughout all their members will be monumental in helping BAT achieve our goals. We’re super excited to see what we can do together over the next 12 months.”

One of the first examples of working together came at the Alzheimer’s Show in London, when Sara Sutcliffe and Duncan Jenkinson from our development team attended to support the BAT presence.

And the work of BAT featured on the BBC London news report of the Show, as shown below.