Do you know someone who goes the extra mile to remove the barriers to table tennis and welcome everyone to the sport?
If so, now is the time to nominate them for a Cloudathlete Pride of Table Tennis Awards Level the Table Award!
You may know someone like last year’s winner, Craig Mehew from St Austell in Cornwall.
Craig teamed up with Allan Brooks and Tim Bowler from St Austell Table Tennis Club on a mission to One big communityan inclusive club that caters to people who walk through the door as beginners, through to provincial players, and recognizes the benefits of the sport for physical and mental wellbeing.
They expanded membership by almost 100 in 2024 and worked with partners including MENCAP, Wild, Wonder & Wisdom (a women’s empowerment project), schools and St Austell Leisure Center to enable 700 people to take part in a range of pop-ups, tasters and coached activities.
Craig was particularly successful in developing activities for people with learning disabilities. He delivered nine coached sessions across three day centres, involving 39 people and serving players of different abilities, including wheelchair users and non-verbal players.
Craig also organized Access Cornwall training for coaches across the county to learn more about developing activities for people with disabilities.
He managed to promote table tennis as an inclusive sport on BBC Radio and TV.
Craig said: “Winning the Level the Table Award at last year’s Table Tennis England Pride Awards was an honour. It felt like all the hard work we put in was really recognized by the governing body, which meant a lot.
“I have always believed that grassroots development is essential to the sport, and while TTE’s social channels often emphasize the elite level, the Pride Awards shine a spotlight on the community and grassroots work that makes table tennis thrive. That recognition really matters.
“Since receiving the award, we have been inspired to go even further. Our membership at St Austell Table Tennis Club has grown to 170, the LD League continues to thrive and our sports psychology project has been incredibly rewarding with potential for even more growth.
“I have also recently taken on the role of schools, which will allow us to involve all schools in Cornwall and get more young people involved in the sport at an early age.
“We have also increased participation from women and the over 55s with the help of our local partners. It feels like table tennis in St Austell is a real talking point and has helped build a strong and united community.
“There is much more we can and will do, and recognition like the Pride Award motivates me to keep moving forward.”
If you know someone who deserves to be recognized, please nominate him or her before January 12.
There are 11 other categories in the Cloudathlete Pride of Table Tennis Awards, including officials, clubs, schools, leagues, coaches and more, including Volunteer of the Year and Young Volunteer of the Year awards.
Receive your nominations now!
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