Keeping Young People Active: The Case for Table Tennis in Haddenham
I started a petition asking our parish council and local leaders to provide proper table tennis facilities in Haddenham because driving out of the village for something as simple as a weekly practice feels wrong. I launched the petition on 22 December 2025 because my son and several other young people in the village love the game and are being forced to travel to get any decent practice.
This is personal, but it is also practical. Table tennis is cheap to run, it teaches focus and coordination, and it gets youngsters off screens and into a shared activity where they can make friends and build confidence. I know from watching my own son that a few hours a week of regular play can make a real difference to his routine and wellbeing. It also means fewer car journeys for families, which matters more than ever.
Right now our only option in the village is the table in Sheerstock Park, and it simply does not work. The floor around it is often slippy and muddy, which makes proper play impossible, and the table itself is wonky and poorly maintained. Children cannot practise properly or safely, and as a result families end up leaving the village just to give their children a fair chance to enjoy and improve at the sport.
It would also make sense to set this up in a way that is already familiar to people in Haddenham. The tennis courts work well because there is a simple membership system and an online booking process that is easy to use and fair for everyone. Table tennis could follow the same model, with a modest annual membership and bookable time slots, so families know when they can play and the space is shared properly. Keeping the system simple and transparent would help avoid conflicts, make good use of the tables, and ensure the facility feels like a valued, well-run community asset rather than something informal that fades away.
What I am asking for is actually very simple. A small investment in indoor table tennis tables and a usable indoor space would create something that lasts for years and gets used week after week. Table tennis is one of the most cost-effective sports there is. Once the tables are in place, the ongoing costs are minimal, and the same equipment can be used by children, teenagers, adults and older residents. Compared with many other projects, this is a relatively small spend that delivers regular activity, social contact and enjoyment for a wide range of people.
It is also the kind of thing a village like Haddenham can realistically support. With a mix of small grants, local fundraising and a bit of community effort, the cost does not have to fall heavily on the parish. Once sessions are established they can largely run themselves, with parents helping out and players taking ownership. That means a one-off decision now could lead to years of healthy, affordable activity for local families, which feels like a sensible and responsible use of money.
We need indoor tables because outdoor play on muddy, uneven ground is not a real option for learning or developing skills. Indoor tables would allow sessions to run year round and give children somewhere safe and consistent to play. It would also create a shared space where people of different ages can mix, which is something villages do well when given the chance.
This is not about elite sport. It is about providing something simple, affordable and positive for young people and the wider community. I believe Haddenham would be better with a proper table tennis facility, and I hope readers will support the petition and help show that this is a change worth making. If you agree that this is something Haddenham could and should do, please consider signing the petition at the following link:
change.org/haddenham_tabletennis
Karen Whitfield
