** This article was originally published on October 30. Funding was paused during lockdown 2.0 and we are pleased to re-open applications as of today (November 27) as we prepare to move back into the tier system.

Table Tennis England today announces a raft of additional funding support for clubs, leagues and counties to help them through the pandemic.

Organisations can apply for grants under both the Be TT and the Inclusivity Grant Scheme banners. The closing date for both funds is Friday December 11 at 5pm.

Be TT/Covid-19 activation fund

Grants of up to £500 are available to support the activation of new sessions delivered by Premier Clubs, leagues, or counties.

The aim of these sessions must be to encourage new participants, or encourage existing participants to return to table tennis. They can be for adults or juniors (under-18s).

Due to the current Covid-19 situation, only those in tier 1 are able to apply for funding to support group adult projects and tier 2 for household bubbles of 2. Depending on the number of applications for this fund we hope to open a further round of funding in early 2021. Those clubs who are currently 3 will be prioritised. Those currently in tier 1, 2 or 3 CAN apply for funding to support junior sessions.

Junior sessions could include support for clubs and leagues delivering phase 3 of the TT Kidz programme which is due to start in February 2021. For each successful application we will look at how we can best use the funding to suit your needs. For more details on this, please email [email protected]

Additionally, sessions could be open pay and play or coaching sessions for players aged 12 to 17. The fund is to enable delivery to young players to keep them active and engaged in the sport and to support sessions that have not been able to get up and running. The funding cannot be used to continue existing sessions that have been able to resume after restrictions have been lifted.

Applicants can apply for funding that will enable clubs, leagues or counties to put on open sessions in venues that have been able to open for adult players to attend, that have not been able to resume their usual activity either through a club or league at all since Lockdown 1.0. Players will have to have “Club Player membership (free of charge for this year), Compete or Compete Plus” or be willing to sign up to one of these membership categories to attend these sessions. We would welcome applications from clubs, leagues and counties working together

We would welcome applications from clubs, leagues and counties working together.

The funding is open to Premier Clubs, leagues and counties and all coaching delivery is to be carried out by a licensed coach. If running a “pay and play” session, there does not need to be a licensed coach at the session. The grant agreement includes a requirement for organisations to monitor and evaluate the success of their project.

Please note that if funding is given to an organisation in a tier 1 area which subsequently moves into tier 2 or tier 3, funding will be ringfenced to support the project when it is able to resume.

In the event of a full lockdown, applications and funding would be suspended until restrictions were lifted.

Click here to make an application

Inclusivity Grant Scheme

These grants aim to support clubs and organisations seeking to reduce the negative impact of covid-19 among underrepresented or minority groups, in order to minimise the widening of inequalities in sport and physical activity.

We are looking to work with Premier & Associate Clubs as well as constituted community-led groups, who can use table tennis to engage people from lower socio-economic groups, BAME communities and/or people with a disability or long-term health condition.

Grants of £400 are available for projects focusing on inclusivity and engaging people from one or more of the areas above, we will aim to fund clubs and/or organisations which:

• Deliver, or have the opportunity to deliver, table tennis whether in a club or community setting
• Already engage, or plan to engage, at least one of the target audiences – people from lower socio-economic groups, BAME communities, disabled people and people with long-term health conditions
• Recognise a need for funding now and can demonstrate engagement into table tennis during the pandemic*
• Are eligible for funding, meaning that they need to have a recognised constitution and have relevant governance in place including public liability insurance which covers the host venue
• Can provide free or low-cost activity – funding helps to subsidise fees for new (eligible) members/participants

*It is important clubs/organisations utilise funding to engage those most negatively affected by covid-19. We welcome applications regardless of which tier is currently in place locally and recognise the need to be flexible, however we do anticipate projects to have commenced within six months of receiving funding.

The Inclusivity Fund cannot support:

• Clubs/organisations which have received or are due to take receipt of Table Tennis England funding within the next six months for similar engagement of the same target audiences.
• Individuals (i.e. training and travel costs)
• Any private businesses or profit-making organisations unless they are a Social Enterprise or Community Interest Company or sole traders

Replacement of old table tennis equipment is not covered by this fund, but funding can be used to support Level 1 coaching qualification costs (up to a maximum of 50% of course costs), new equipment that helps meet the needs of the participants the project is aimed at, facility hire or coaching costs. Those seeking awards for training/coaching qualifications should demonstrate how that will benefit/engage the target audience or that the person receiving qualification is from one of the target groups.

Click here to make an application

Sport England support

Sport England recently launched a ‘Return to Play Fund’ to support groups, clubs, leagues and organisations which have been impacted by restrictions brought in to tackle the virus. We would encourage as many clubs/leagues to apply for this and we can support any applications. Click here for more information and if you have any queries please contact [email protected]

While being in receipt of this funding does not prevent organisations from applying to Table Tennis England, we want to ensure the Inclusivity Fund provides additionality, so therefore ask clubs/organisations which have had funding confirmed, or are going through the application process, to declare when applying to us.