St Austell Table Tennis Club is thrilled to announce the successful award of £22,000 from Cornwall Council’s Community Capacity Fund to deliver Psyched: TT4Good – Sports Psychology and Table Tennis: Improving the Mental Health of Children and Young People.

This innovative and exciting pilot will use the fast-paced, inclusive nature of table tennis alongside proven sports psychology tools to build resilience, confidence, and emotional wellbeing among young people in St Austell and the Clays. Co-led by Table Tennis England, and delivered in collaboration with local Clubs, Cornwall Table Tennis Association, Penrice Academy, Young People Cornwall and Barnardo’s Young Carers, TT4Good is rooted in the belief that sport can do far more than develop physical skills — it can help young people thrive mentally, emotionally, and socially.

This project is about more than just sport, It’s about using the structure and energy of table tennis as a way to explore identity, build confidence, and teach coping strategies that young people can carry into every part of their lives.”

Craig Mehew – St Austell Table Tennis Club – Development Officer

The project has engaged partners from across different sectors — education, health, youth work, and national sport — who see the potential of this approach to make a meaningful difference in young people’s lives. Central to the programme’s development is a close working relationship with Sarah Majid, a Sports Psychologist who is helping the project team unlock the potential of the concept and bring it to life through practical tools, engaging sessions, and real-world application.

The programme will train six volunteer coaches in youth-focused sports psychology techniques, enabling them to deliver a programme of 10 sessions that go beyond the game. Integrated within Table Tennis Coaching, these workshops cover key themes such as emotional regulation, resilience, goal setting, and motivation — all of which have direct relevance to challenges young people face in their daily lives.

The full list of workshop topics includes:

– Bouncing Back: Resilience in Sport
– Keeping Calm Under Pressure
– Positive Self-Talk
– My Strengths On & Off the Table
– Understanding and Managing Emotions
– Staying Active, Staying Well
– and more.

These sessions are designed not only to improve table tennis performance but to develop life skills—like managing mistakes, handling stress, or working in a team—that are essential for emotional wellbeing and long-term mental health.

The project will run across multiple settings—club sessions, schools, and community groups— creating 3 new Ping in the Community Projects, ensuring it reaches a wide and inclusive audience. The sessions will be tailored to suit each group, with personal journals, a toolkit of activities, and reflective practices to reinforce learning.

The training of coaches and creation of bespoke resources will begin over the summer, with delivery planned for the autumn term (September to December 2025). The project will conclude with a full evaluation, including the production of an impact report and video to help share learning and attract further investment across Cornwall—and beyond.

“Table tennis is such a powerful tool for good. I’ve carried this idea with me for many years, waiting for the right opportunity to bring it to life. This project gives us the chance to explore how sports psychology can make a real difference to young people’s wellbeing. If it proves effective, it has the potential to scale nationally—and become part of a meaningful response to the growing mental health crisis facing young people across the country.”

Amanda Leonard – Table Tennis England Area Manager (South West)

St Austell Table Tennis Club, alongside Table Tennis England and community partners, is proud to lead this forward-thinking initiative and looks forward to creating lasting impact in the lives of local young people.

Follow the journey via the club’s instagram (https://www.instagram.com/staustellttc/) and if you have any projects or ideas for using TT4Good we’d love to hear from you.

Link back to the South West Area page.