Get Out Get Active partners with PING! Blackpool

Across the country, the Get Out Get Active (GOGA) programme is supporting disabled and non-disabled people to be more physically active. In Lancashire, our delivery partner Active Blackpool, teamed up with PING! to provide table tennis equipment to local residents. It is one of the many ways GOGA Blackpool is encouraging people to stay connected and be active during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Since April, in response to the national lockdown our GOGA coordinators worked with staff at Active Blackpool to deliver food parcels to residents who had been shielding. They also created a GOGA activity booklet to be delivered with the food parcels to encourage residents to be more active at home.

Soon after GOGA partnered with PING! Blackpool to provide more opportunities for some of area’s least active people to be more physically active. So far this year PING! Blackpool have delivered 400 table tennis bats and balls to local residents, so that people could give the game a go at home. The partnership also enabled GOGA coordinators to work closely with other organisations and establish delivery programmes that will benefit local residents.

In October 2020, GOGA Blackpool engaged with Aspired Futures, a local charity providing life changing services for the most vulnerable children and young people. Our coordinators have delivered a range of physical activities weekly to children at Aspired Futures. Activities continued during the second national lockdown in November, with GOGA coordinators delivering interactive online sessions.

The GOGA programme has been a benefit to Aspired Futures as it has opened up new opportunities for the children. The children and young people look forward to the sessions with Lindon and April (GOGA coordinators) and are eager to know what activities they will be doing each week. The sessions provide structure and opportunities for them shine as individuals as well as building on their ability to work as a team.

Amy Giles, Deputy Service and Volunteer Manager at Aspired Futures

The young people have found many of the games interesting and they are looking forward to the weeks when we get to go the sport centre and the other new games they might bring in for them to learn and play with. It has over all been a really fun and active programme to be part of and I can see many of the young people being to take new skills away from this.

Sean Cartridge, Volunteer at Aspired Futures

Next year, GOGA plans to expand its table tennis activities and increase participation with further support from PING! Blackpool. Several local organisations and community groups have expressed an interest in receiving a PING! table tennis table for local residents to use together.

This story is part of our ongoing series showcasing how GOGA locations are finding new ways to reach some of our most inactive audiences across the UK.

About Get Out Get Active

Get Out Get Active (GOGA) is a programme that supports disabled and non-disabled people to enjoy being active together. Activity Alliance is the creator and lead partner. The programme is funded by Spirit of 2012, Sport England and London Marathon Charitable Trust.