Table Tennis England’s Safeguarding and Disciplinary Manager, Judy Rogers, will retire at the end of the year after working for the organization for more than 27 years.
Everyone at Table Tennis England would like to wish Judy all the best for her retirement and thank her for her contribution. At our recent staff meeting, a presentation was given to Judy by our Chief Executive, Sally Lockyer.
Judy joined the then ETTA on July 1, 1998 as National Development Officer for People with Disabilities.
The Association was the first NGB to employ a full-time disability officer and Judy later submitted a successful bid to Sport England in 2009, which resulted in the award of £569,000 for the Playground to Podium programme, enabling the employment of ten regional disability officers.
She helps deliver more than 250 disability awareness courses across the country through the Premier Club and Premier Club Ability programme.
Judy’s work also saw her transcend sport and work with national organisations.
She worked with Youth Sport Trust to include disabled table tennis in the UK School Games when they were launched. Table tennis was the first sport to host an inclusive event, bringing in players such as Will Bayley, Jack Hunter-Spivey, Billy Shilton, Aaron McKibbin, Ross Wilson and Shae Thakker over the years.
She was a member of the working group, together with Tanni Grey-Thompson, among others, that founded the English Federation of Disability Sport (now Activity Alliance).
From the early 2000s, Judy took the lead on equality, diversity and protection and was part of the working group that established the Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU).
She established the Safeguarding Standards and guided Table Tennis England through the Bronze, Silver and Gold tiers, becoming the fourth governing body to achieve all standards, and continued to conduct an annual review of the framework achieved each year.
She was a welfare coordinator and member of the organizing committee of the UK School Games from its inception until 2017, when table tennis was no longer included, and worked with disability groups including London Sports Forum, Wheelpower, Mencap, UK Deaf Sport, CP Sport, Spinal Units at Stoke Mandeville and Northern General in Sheffield.
She also had close links with the table tennis governing bodies in Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
Judy would be the first to say that all of her achievements were the result of teamwork and collaboration with many people from multiple agencies. However, the appreciation she enjoys in the sporting landscape shows how much she will be missed.
Good wishes to Judy from partner organizations
Senior Consultant Liza Ware, on behalf of the CPSU said: “Judy was one of the original Lead Safeguarding Officers, an early adopter, a pioneer. She understood the importance of protecting members who participate in sport. At first it was a challenge to convince all stakeholders why safeguarding was important, but thanks to Judy’s tenacity, enthusiasm, dedication and drive she brought about significant change in Table Tennis England.
“She supported the organization in meeting the CPSU’s Advanced Safeguarding Standards and has continued to support the organization in maintaining, continuously improving and embedding security practices, making participants’ everyday experiences safer.
“Sadly, Judy is leaving her role as LSO within Table Tennis England, but she leaves behind a legacy. We will never know the true impact Judy has had within table tennis and beyond, but what we can say with certainty is that she has made a difference: she has secured many people, she has left a positive mark within the sporting sector, she will be truly missed and her contributions will never be forgotten.
“Judy, the CPSU wishes you a very happy and well-deserved retirement. We thank you for all the great work you have done over the years to keep children and young people safe within the sports sector.”
Arnold Morgan, Chairman of Table Tennis Ireland, said: “I have known Judy for over 15 years, from her work in safeguarding with the Northern Ireland teams at the UK School Games to her recent support of Table Tennis Ireland on safeguarding and membership matters.
“During this time she has been consistently professional, generous with her time and unwavering in her care for players, volunteers and officials.
“On behalf of Table Tennis Ireland, I extend our sincere thanks and best wishes to Judy for a happy and fulfilling retirement. Her positive impact on our sport has been significant and will be long lasting.”
Liz Behnke, director of Syzygy Leisure Ltd, who provide safeguarding services to the sports industry, said: “I simply cannot imagine table tennis without Judy being present. I have known her for around 30 years in her various roles, and we have shared many ‘moments’ in that time on issues of safeguarding and equality.
“Always in the background working on table tennis matters, she was a wealth of information (something that can only come as a result of years of experience) with friendly sage advice when asked. That is something that will be sorely missed by so many.
“Her knowledge goes beyond just table tennis, and she is always present in the Lead Safeguarding Officers group, again ready with support and an ear to bend when a colleague needs support. She will be missed in that room. As a friend she has also given me support, she went above and beyond, I will also miss her as a colleague, but hopefully we will stay in touch.”
“Thank you, Judy, for what you have done and who you are, your passion and dedication. Enjoy your ‘retirement’, but I can’t think we’ll see you sailing off into the sun, I know you’ll stay right in the middle of the hustle and bustle!
“This is going to be a very big pair of shoes to fill. We will all miss you.”
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