Written by Andrew Ward

A PROJECT that has been providing people up to the age of 96 with the chance to socialise and keep active has returned in communities across Glasgow with the help of National Lottery funding.

Until the pandemic brought sport to a halt in March, Drumchapel Table Tennis Club (TTC) was running sessions of its over-50s community project at nine venues across Glasgow.

Within its first year the project saw an increase in participation from 75 to more than 250.

Drumchapel TTC was able to reopen in September and the sessions have now returned there and at the Easterhouse Community Sports Hub, they continue to have a life-changing impact for those taking part.

Participant Johnny Campbell, 85, said: “It’s absolutely amazing to be back playing table tennis.

“During lockdown I really missed playing as it helps to keep me fit and healthy, both mentally and physically. I also missed the social scene, and to have that back in my life is great.”

The club went to great lengths to keep members engaged during lockdown and Drumchapel TTC chair Terry McLernon admitted it was a relief to be able to welcome them back to the club.

He said: “It was important to keep members up to date. We had made huge progress building the project up and didn’t want to put all that hard work to waste.

“There have been quite a few participants frightened to get out or in the vulnerable category, so we made an extra effort to check in with them regularly.

“Our mental health is hugely important during this time and so we have been making an extra effort to make sure that everyone is OK.

“I think it has been really good for me, the club and most importantly all the players to be back.

“We have worked hard to make sure the correct protocols are in place to follow the Scottish Government, sportscotland and Table Tennis Scotland guidance to allow a safe return to sport.

“The numbers have been growing steadily each week with more people finding out that we are back up and running. It has been very inspiring to hear that everyone is enjoying being back.”

Through support from sportscotland’s Direct Club Investment (DCI) funding, as well as Glasgow Life and Table Tennis Scotland, the number of sessions had grown from four to 11 at nine venues across Glasgow.

Financial support from sportscotland’s Direct Club Investment has allowed Drumchapel TTC to employ two part-time development officers, Tommy McFadden and Charlie Brown, to deliver many of the sessions.

The funding also allowed a further 10 volunteers to be put through their coaching and first-aid qualifications to help support the sessions.

Direct Club Investment is a key component of sportscotland’s commitment towards club development which distributes National Lottery funding to clubs. The programme prioritises engaging the inactive and underrepresented in sport, including girls and young women, people with a disability and people living in Scotland’s most disadvantaged communities.

The community sessions have been developed through partnerships with Glasgow Life and local community sport hubs, which have allowed the project to reach inactive people in new communities.