Social care charity celebrate World Table Tennis Day with Team GB star

To celebrate World Table Tennis Day 2024 (WTTD2024), Team GB Para Table Tennis star Jack Hunter-Spivey joined people supported by national social care charity Community Integrated Care for an exclusive online experience. 

The charity welcomed people with learning disabilities and autism across the UK to meet the Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist on their free accessible events website: www.What-To-Do.co.uk – and enjoy a unique blend of table tennis-themed accessible exercises and motivational conversations.

Jack – also a Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Games Bronze medallist – shared insights into his journey through the sport through a fun Q&A with participants, including how he first got involved at a local youth centre, to one day representing his nation on the biggest stages as part of Team GB.

To continue their WTTD2024 celebrations, Community Integrated Care’s specialist Sports Inclusion Team delivered a series of ‘Table Tennis Parties’ in their services across the UK, giving people who access care and support the chance to enjoy Table Tennis through their pioneering table tennis in social care programme, ‘Care To Play’ (www.caretoplay.co.uk/).

This free initiative developed teaches people in social care the fundamental skills to play and enjoy table tennis, sharing ways that the sport can be adapted for all.

Speaking after the experience, Jack Hunter-Spivey said: 

“This whole experience and connecting back with Community Integrated Care and the people they support truly brightened my day. I was so happy to see people getting involved in the sport I love, that has given me so much joy.

“To share my passion with others is a privilege, and I’m glad that through the brilliant What To Do website, I’m able to connect with people and inspire them to pick up a racket. Seeing the videos of people playing just after the experience was so special to see!”

Lewis Webster, Sports Inclusion Communications Manager at Community Integrated Care, said:

“Table Tennis is an amazing, accessible, and adaptive sport that promotes fun and happiness with physical activity – which is why we created this fantastic opportunity to connect people in social care with the sport, and a world-class athlete in Jack.

“Our ‘Care To Play’ report shares profound examples of how this sport has positively impacted people’s lives, so we’re proud to continue our efforts in connecting people in social care to Table Tennis knowing the incredible benefits it brings.

“We’d like to thank our partners Table Tennis England who continue to explore the potential health and social impact of their sport in social care.”

Community Integrated Care was proudly awarded the Inclusion Award at the 2021 Pride of Table Tennis Awards, for supporting almost 200 care services to access table tennis starter packs during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, helping to keep people physically and mentally stimulated during lockdown.