A TABLE tennis social programme will be relaunched once the coronavirus lockdown is lifted.

Kirkby Stephen Table Tennis Club launched the Bat and Chat programme which was designed to allow individuals who have already played table tennis to enjoy a slower version of the game and to bring in those who have never played before.

However, the programme had to be put on hold due to the restrictions caused by the Covid pandemic.

Sessions are individual to each organisation but they all offer basic coaching and facilitation for participants, followed by light refreshments including tea, coffee, and cake.

The programme also worked towards reducing social isolation and boost club memberships.

Other benefits included more social aspects to the club, whilst offering the potential for members to move into local leagues if the programme continued to progress.

Table Tennis England, who launched the initiative, have delivered 43 programmes through their online sign up for marketing and product guidance.

More than 20 clubs from across the country have signed up with between eight and 20 people taking part in their sessions.While the participation has seen 50 per cent of women taking part. Men also play the social programme on a weekly basis throughout the whole country.

Bat and Chat will be returning once the government guidelines allow it to.

Further details on the programme can be found at tabletennisengland.co.uk/news/archived/join-our-bat-and-chat-programme .