Taking children off the streets and giving them the chance to make friends and learn new skills is the subject of the latest in our #PowerofPing series of inspirational films.

Grange Park in Blackpool is in one of the most deprived areas in the country, but its community hub offers residents access to activities, events and support – including ping pong!

Local children have access to weekly table tennis sessions, providing them with a safe place to come to have some food, take part in productive activity, interact with other children and adults and, above all, have fun.

Check out the film below to see how the children are responding positively to this chance and why one of the participants said:

It makes me happy, it makes me a proud sister because he’s making friends. He never used to do that, he’s dead shy and he won’t speak to anybody so to see him having fun, hitting a ball and speaking to people – it’s great.

* The #PowerofPing campaign, launched to coincide with the 10th anniversary of Ping!, consists of a series of short films telling the stories of some of the inspirational projects and people involved in the programme. Click here to watch the other films released so far.

If you have been inspired to play, Ping! provides FREE family fun in thousands of public places around England – find out where you can play by clicking this button: