Growing a grassroots game in Wrexham
Young people across Wrexham are discovering table tennis not just as a pastime but as a route into sport, coaching and leadership after a multi-agency programme reported engagement with more than 1,500 participants since 2023. The partnership — led by Coleg Cambria in conjunction with Table Tennis Wales and Active Wrexham — has used coaching, competitions and community events to widen access to the sport and build local pathways.
The most recent block of activity took place at Coleg Cambria’s Yale campus in Wrexham where new players were introduced to the game and college students were given opportunities to progress into coaching and volunteering roles. The programme places as much emphasis on personal development as on playing ability: organisers say the sessions boost coordination, confidence and leadership skills as well as enjoyment of sport.
- Partners involved: Coleg Cambria, Table Tennis Wales, Active Wrexham, local schools and community groups.
- Reach since 2023: More than 1,500 young people engaged through coaching, competitions and events.
- Local highlights: A Primary School visit to Bwlchgwyn reached over 100 pupils, and college students delivered festivals and activator courses.
From classroom taster to community festival
Among the notable local activities was a session at Bwlchgwyn Primary School where more than 100 pupils took part in fun, movement-focused table tennis coaching designed for children at early stages of development. The college then hosted Scouts and Cubs from the village for follow-up taster sessions, cementing links between school, college and community groups.
"Over the last few months, we’ve seen first-hand the positive impact table tennis can have on young people, whether that’s through participation, competition, leadership or simply building confidence and making new friends,"
Those words came from Aaron Beech, North Wales Regional Development Officer for Table Tennis Wales, who said the support from Coleg Cambria, Active Wrexham, schools and community groups has been instrumental in creating a sustainable pathway for children to start and continue in the sport.
Students on Coleg Cambria’s Level 2 Sport programme have been central to the delivery model. They completed a Table Tennis Activator Course which equipped them with coaching, communication and leadership skills; they then planned and ran activity stations at a Primary School Table Tennis Festival, giving pupils practical, hands-on experiences while allowing the students to develop as coaches.
Local consequences and next steps
The partnership model delivers a number of local benefits. For pupils it provides an accessible sport that can be introduced in school time; for the college it creates real-world placements and vocational experience; and for community groups it increases opportunities for organised activity outside of traditional sports. The organisers say this holistic approach helps sustain long-term participation rather than one-off exposure.
Organisers at the Yale campus have finished their summer block of sessions and are preparing to resume in September, seeking to build on the momentum developed over the last three years. The scheme’s mix of coaching, festivals and volunteer development offers a repeatable template for other towns and schools in the county aiming to broaden sporting opportunities.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Young people engaged since 2023 | 1,500+ |
| Pupils at Bwlchgwyn Primary visit | 100+ |
For families in Wrexham, the initiative means more chances for children to try a new sport close to home and for older students to gain experience that will support future study and employment in sport and community leadership. As the programme returns after the summer, local clubs and schools will be watching to see whether the momentum can be sustained and translated into long-term participation across the county.
