Stirlingshire Table Tennis Launches Pop-in and Play

Table Tennis Scotland was delighted to support the launch of the Stirlingshire Table Tennis Pop-in and Play venue at The Thistles Shopping Centre in Stirling.

This latest addition to the Pop-in and Play network aims to make table tennis more accessible by offering a welcoming, drop-in environment where people can play informally while visiting the city centre. Led by Mando Notarangelo and a committed team of local volunteers, the venue will provide free access to tables, basic coaching support, and opportunities to get involved with local sessions across the region.

Mando Notarangelo highlighted the crucial role played by the strong volunteer team from Stirlingshire Table Tennis, stating,

I couldn’t have done this without the support of our dedicated volunteers. Their commitment is what makes this initiative possible.

The launch event, which took place on Thursday, May 8th, was well attended, with representatives from Parkinson’s UK Scotland and Active Stirling showing their support. The day had a vibrant atmosphere, with plenty of smiles and even some rallies featuring Table Tennis Scotland’s Chief Operating Officer, Richard Yule.

Within just a few days of opening, the venue has already seen a great response, which is a promising sign for its success. Stirlingshire Table Tennis is sure to continue collaborating with these organisations and others in the future to further promote table tennis within the local community and expand opportunities for everyone to get involved. The Stirling venue will also support targeted outreach sessions for under-represented groups, including individuals living with Parkinson’s and dementia. Outside of daily drop-in hours, Stirlingshire Table Tennis plans to deliver structured junior and senior coaching, talent development, and community engagement programmes.

Table Tennis Scotland congratulates Stirlingshire Table Tennis on this excellent achievement and looks forward to supporting the initiative as the Stirling venue grows into a vibrant hub for table tennis in the area. To find out more about Pop-in and Play times, visit the Stirlingshire Table Tennis Facebook page for updates.

Please see some photos of the launch event below.