Table Tennis England The Winning Edge Issue 7 | Page 9

INNOVATE TO FLOURISH
FINDING THE
FUNDING
F
ormed in 2013, Brandon and Byshottles TTC won
the ‘Club of the Year’ award just three years later.
Explaining their sudden success, secretary Tony Taylor
hailed the range of players they appeal to - and the
specific sets of skills they bring to the club.
“We’re not just for talented players, we exist as much for social
and recreational players, and we’re totally inclusive, with players
aged from eight to 86.”
That inclusivity is something they promote, as many other clubs
around the country do too, but it’s not the end of their scope as
a club.
Based in an old Miners’ Welfare hall, in a part of the country
once famed for its coal but now struggling to create
opportunities for its once tight-knit community, Taylor explains
that they’ve been able to access all sorts of funding by offering
sessions that are specifically aimed at health or socialising. It’s a
paperwork-heavy but rewarding route towards grants that fund
sessions – and coaches.
“Local doctors were asked to prescribe exercise so we created a
Wednesday morning session aimed at the elderly, which is being
funded by the local NHS trust.”
While Taylor reserves praise for the club’s volunteers and their
skill with funding applications, they aren’t doing anything other
clubs can’t do, especially if you’re not afraid to ask for help.
‘ We created a Wednesday
‘
morning session aimed at the
elderly, which is being funded
by the local NHS trust.
“We’ve made links with County Durham Sport, the clubs officers
there, they are full of great help and advice and a point of access
for funding.”
They’ve also been on their toes when it comes to innovative
opportunities. “Tuesdays are Cub Scout nights at our hall,
but instead of just accepting that as an evening off for our
club, we’ve gone down and got involved with the Cubs – and
Brownies – doing coaching sessions with them some weeks.”
Just as all areas will have the potential to access funding to pay
for coached sessions, so all club venues will have within them
opportunities for you to branch out.
Maybe youth or OAP groups use the same building at different
times of the week – make contacts there, offer taster sessions or
joint events.
Perhaps there’s a bingo session every Friday night – advertise
for people to come half an hour early and warm up with some
friendly table tennis.
And if you’re the only coach and active board member at the
club, delegate to your players. Chances are they’ll catch wind of
opportunities just as quickly as you.
WE
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