Table Tennis England’s Safeguarding and Disciplinary Manager, Judy Rogers, will retire at the end of the year after more than 27 years working for the organisation.
Everyone at Table Tennis England would like to wish Judy all the best for her retirement and extend our thanks for her contribution. During our recent staff meeting, a presentation was made to Judy by our Chief Executive, Sally Lockyer.
Judy joined the then ETTA on 1 July, 1998, as the 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 which allowed the employment of 10 regional disability officers.
She help to deliver more than 250 disability awareness courses around the country through the Premier Club and Premier Club Ability programme.
Judy’s work also saw her transcend the 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 run an inclusive event which brought 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, alongside the likes of Tanni Grey-Thompson, which set up the English Federation of Disability Sport (now Activity Alliance).
From the early 2000s, Judy took the lead for equality, diversity and safeguarding and was part of the working group which set up the Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU).
She set up the Safeguarding Standards and steered Table Tennis England through the bronze, silver and gold levels, becoming the fourth governing body to achieve all the standards, and continued to achieve annual assessment on the framework achieving each year.
She was Welfare Coordinator and on the organising committee of the UK School Games from conception 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 all her achievements were the result of teamwork and collaboration with many people across multiple agencies. However, the regard she is held in across the sports landscape shows how much she will be missed.
Good wishes to Judy from partner organisations
Senior Consultant Liza Ware, on behalf of the CPSU said: “Judy was one of the original Lead Safeguarding Officers, an early adopter, a trailblazer, she understood the importance of safeguarding members who participate in sport. In the early days it was challenging to convince all stakeholders why safeguarding was important, but due to Judy’s tenacity, enthusiasm, commitment and drive she brought about significant changes to Table Tennis England.
“She supported the organisation to meet the CPSU’s Advanced Safeguarding Standards and has continued to support the organisation to maintain, continuously improve and embed safeguarding practices and therefore made the day-to-day experiences of participants safer.
“Sadly, Judy is leaving her role as LSO within Table Tennis England, but she leaves a legacy. We will never know the true impact that Judy has had within table tennis and beyond but, what we can say for certain she has made a difference, she has safeguarded many people, she has left a positive mark within the sport sector, she will be truly missed, and her contributions will never be forgotten.
“Judy, the CPSU wish you a very happy and well-deserved retirement, we thank you for all of the amazing work you have done over the years to keep children and young people safe within the sport sector.”
Arnold Morgan, Chair of Table Tennis Ireland, said: “I have known Judy for over 15 years, from her safeguarding work with the Northern Ireland teams at the UK School Games to her recent support for Table Tennis Ireland on safeguarding and membership matters.
“Throughout 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, which provides safeguarding services to the sports industry, said: “I simply cannot imagine table tennis without Judy being present. I have known her in her various roles for probably around 30 years, and we have shared many a “moment” during that time on matters safeguarding and equality.
“Always there beavering in the background on table tennis matters, she has been a mine of information (something that can only be there as a result of years of experience) with friendly sage advice when asked. That is something that is going to be sorely missed by so many.
“Her knowledge goes wider than 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 space. As a friend she has also given me support, going above and beyond, I will miss her too 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 commitment. Enjoy your ‘retirement’, but I cannot think that we will see you sail off into the sunshine, I know you will remain in the thick of things!
“This is going to be a very big pair of shoes to fill. We will all miss you.”
