New Milton Table Tennis Club has just been awarded £1,250 by the “Accentuate” programme, a range of projects inspired by the Paralympic Movement, showcasing talent among disabled people in sport, culture and the arts.

Funded by Legacy Trust UK (Lottery Funded) and SEEDA – South East England Development Agency, the Accentuate award to the New Milton club is to provide two new wheelchair-accessible table tennis tables and other table tennis equipment to facilitate the club whose aim is to make the sport as accessible to as many people as possible. The successful application was submitted on behalf of the club by chairman & development officer Shaun Newcomb who is a wheelchair player.

Club secretary Bev Scott-Johns said “I am absolutely delighted with this award from the Accentuate programme. New Milton Table Tennis Club operates out of three local centres, the Arnewood School, Mudeford Wood Community Centre and Sway Village Hall, all of which offer good general access and appropriate facilities. Our two new tables and the other equipment will make table tennis easier for local people with or without disabilities to enjoy at all three centres.”

In January, the Club completed the English Table Tennis Association’s disability awareness training, gaining “Premier Ability” status, which would have helped its cause.

Pictured l-r: Club members Julie Smillie, Shaun Newcomb (Chair & Development Officer), Matthew Daish, Malcolm Floyd (Treasurer & Press Officer), Peter Daish, Brian Rainbird & Fern Daish shown with the Accentuate award confirmation letter.