Grant for new Table Tennis Centre in Burton on Trent

Uxbridge Table Tennis is pleased to announce they have been awarded a grant of £350,000 to refurbish and extend the existing sports hall at Robert Sutton Catholic High School. The grant will turn the existing sport halls into one of only a handful of purpose built table tennis facilities in the country.

Upon completion of building works later this year, the club and school will have access to twenty table tennis tables. Local schools and community groups will also have access to the new building. The grant was awarded through the Community Club Development Programme, which is a Government, Exchequer funded programme, managed by Sport England and distributed through the governing bodies of sport. 

Steve Town, Regional Director, Sport England in congratulating all concerned said: “With this refurbished and enhanced sports hall on the school site, we will see the potential trebling of the numbers of people able to play table tennis in the area. It is excellent that quality facilities will be available to all players, including disabled players, from both of the clubs using the site and the school. With the new centre recognised as being up to national competition standard this should inspire players to strive to reach their full potential. I congratulate everyone involved in this project – allowing Table Tennis to grow, sustain and excel.” 

Pictured outside the existing sports hall at Robert Sutton Catholic High School, Burton on Trent are Terry Gadsby (Uxbridge TTC President), Chris Newton (Uxbridge TTC Chairman) and Andrew Mawdsley (East Staffs PDM)

Chris Newton, Chairman of Uxbridge Table Tennis Club stated, ”after forming a new partnership with the staff and Partnership Development Manager at Robert Sutton, our club has now got the capacity to expand and secure its long term future in a magnificent new centre. We will be sad to be leaving the Uxbridge Community Centre, where our club was founded back in 1985. Sadly the imminent demise of Youth Premises in the area has forced us to look for a new home. Can I pay tribute to the excellent and dedicated work the staff at Robert Sutton, the ETTA, Sport England and my team of volunteers have done in reaching this point.”

Mark Thornewill, Director, Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent said: "We are delighted to hear of the successful Community Club Development Programme award. The project partners have worked tremendously hard to bring this project to fruition and it really demonstrates how so much more can be achieved by working together rather than individually. All the partners are to be congratulated.

"Robert Sutton Specialist Sports College sits at the heart of the local community and the new development will enhance the strong links it has with sports clubs and have a real impact on increasing participation in sport. The new development will allow a thriving local Table Tennis club to provide even greater opportunities for all sections of the community to participate in an exciting sport and importantly help the club develop its talented youngsters and the coaches and volunteers who are vital to sustaining a vibrant sports club network."

The new sports hall is set to open during the Autumn Term 2008. For more information on opening times of the new centre please visit www.uxbridgettc.co.uk for more details.