Disability Bowling
1
The Pitch
Problem statement
Our Bowling Academy was set up to encourage people in Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde to take up crown green bowling. In the last year, it has been working with people who have additional needs three days a week at our clubhouse and once a week with a local charity that supports disabled adults to enjoy sports of all kinds. Our work with the charity takes place in a sports hall and we have often been asked if we could work with them on our bowling green. Although we have invested some money in bowling aids we need further investment for additional equipment to make this possible. For example, wheelchair users are unable to use their chairs on a green owing to the damage the wheels would inflict.
Solution
We wish to give as many people as possible the opportunity to try something new. We require specially designed equipment to enhance our present offering. A specially designed wheelchair would allow participants access to the green and Bowling Arms would allow those unable to bend the chance to launch a bowl with ease. Often people with hand disabilities such as arthritis find it difficult to hold normal-sized bowls. Funding would buy one powered wheelchair, two bowling arms and three sets of light bowls for use by those with hand disabilities. The opportunity for disabled people to take part in the game of bowls is tremendous and there are no local bowling clubs offering this facility.
Why are we best placed to deliver?
Within the last year, two club members have achieved the Level One coaching qualification, and later in 2023 three more will start the course. We operate our bowling academy every Sunday morning and work with additional needs people three mornings a week inside our clubhouse. We also help out with the charity, Together We Can Do, once a week in the Blackpool sports hall with specially designed soft bowls and targets. We would like to expand on this to give the participants more opportunities and let them have the experience of bowling on a green. Many of our club members are experienced bowlers and have the knowledge to assist when necessary. We have the commitment to follow this through.
Focus Areas
Delivery plan
Budget breakdown
| Motorised Bowls Royce Wheelchair | £2,700 |
| Drakes Pride Bowling Arms | £608 |
| Bowlsmate Walking Stick | £192 |
| 2 sets x 2lb; 1 x set 2lb x 2oz; 1 set x 2lb 4oz Bowls | £500 |
Beneficiaries
30 people
Who will benefit
Expected impact
If we are successful we will immediately give a great deal of pleasure to at least four wheelchair users at the charity as well as those who find it difficult to take part in contact sports. We often get wheelchair users passing through the park who stop and look at what is happening on the green. At the moment we cannot offer them any encouragement to try the game. We have club members who have left because their age-related disability has stopped them from playing. With bowling aids, we can keep them as members and allow them to continue with their favourite pastime.It is expected that our project will encourage other bowling clubs in Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde to follow our lead and start to see how they could work with the disabled to enhance their quality of life whilst gaining a great deal of satisfaction from the work. It only needs one club to start the bowl rolling and we want to be that club.
Track record
The Anchorsholme Bowling and Social Club began in 1967 and has slowly developed over the years. 2017 saw the opening of a new purpose-built clubhouse. In September 2022 we were the first bowling club in West Lancashire to open a bowling academy. This has proved successful, bringing in over 25 new members who have all passed through the academy beginners course. In November 2022 we started working one morning a week with additional needs people from Warren Manor Day Care Centre. This proved so successful we now work with them three mornings a week. The academy began working with adults having disabilities via the charity Together We Can Do, every Thursday afternoon at Blackpool Sports Centre in April 2023. We now have an excellent relationship with them. The people we work with love what we do, as it allows them freedom of expression and gives them more confidence in their abilities. The academy wishes to extend its ability to learn and help people from all walks of life enjoy sports.