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The Chair of Sport England, Chris Boardman MBE, visited the Fitzherbert Community Hub (FCH) in the Parish of East Brighton on Tuesday 12 March. The Fitzherbert (or the "Fitz" as it is fondly known) sits in the grounds of St John the Baptist Catholic Church in Kemptown and is home to three fantastic charities: Voices in Exile, The Real Junk Food Project and The Brighton Table Tennis Club.

‍Sport England was a key player in the initial funding and vision which brought the FCH to fruition. A former Olympic cycling champion and a three time stage winner of the Tour de France, Chris was given an extensive tour of the Brighton Table Tennis Club, with coffee and lunch provided by the Real Junk Food Project. He was also shown around the new community facility at Moulsecoomb, on the site of the former St Francis' Church – another joint venture between the Parish and the Table Tennis Club which promises to be a wonderful facility for sport and social activity in an area of the city which needs more social investment.

Speaking to Brighton & Hove News recently, Table Tennis Club founder, Tim Holtam said: “Everyone at Brighton Table Tennis Club is incredibly excited about opening an additional venue in the heart of Moulsecoomb. It will massively grow our capacity to bring table tennis, and all the benefits that come with it, to even more people. We’re really grateful to Sport England and the London Marathon Foundation, for helping us to raise the funds to get this work done."

The Table Tennis Club is grateful to Sport England and the London Marathon Foundation for providing funding towards the project, and to the parish for the long lease of the premises.

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Source: East Brighton Parish and Brighton & Hove News