BDA Spring Newsletter

Bowling News

The Bowls Development Alliance (BDA) is charged with reinvigorating bowling to fend off the threat of it dying altogether. They issue quarterly newsletters on their progress in a number of projects deemed to create more interest and support within our sport. This is the Spring 2025 Newsletter.

Welcome

As we welcome the arrival of Spring, we are pleased to share the latest updates from the Bowls Development Alliance (BDA). The past few months have been a period of significant activity, with the BDA’s Roadshows across England proving to be a tremendous success. These events allowed us to connect directly with clubs, volunteers, and stakeholders, providing valuable insights, resources, and support to help grow and develop the sport of bowls.

In this edition of our newsletter, we reflect on the Roadshow journey, highlight our continued commitment to county development, and introduce some exciting new resources, including our Case Study Library and upcoming Green Toolkit. We also share our ongoing efforts to drive inclusion and sustainability within the bowls community, ensuring that our sport remains accessible and relevant for all.

As always, the BDA is dedicated to supporting clubs and volunteers across the country, and we look forward to working with you all to build a brighter, more sustainable future for bowls.

Reflecting on a Fantastic Series of Roadshows!

Over the past few weeks, we have been on the road, delivering a series of Roadshows alongside our NGB partners, designed to provide clubs with expert insights, practical support, and interactive experiences to help them thrive. With an impressive turnout of approximately 275 attendees across the country, these events have been a huge success!

Our Roadshow Journey

We travelled far and wide to ensure clubs had the opportunity to engage with us, visiting:

· County Arts IBC (Norfolk) – 26th February

· Swale IBC (Kent) – 27th February

· Bodmin IBC (Cornwall) – 4th March

· Malvern Hills IBC (Worcestershire) – 6th March

· New Earswick IBC (York) – 11th March

Each venue provided a warm welcome, and the enthusiasm from club officials, volunteers, and stakeholders was truly inspiring. The level of engagement demonstrated the passion within the bowls community to grow and develop our sport.

What We Covered

The roadshows were packed with content covering a wide range of topics aimed at helping clubs maximise their potential.

    Benefits of Affiliation – We discussed how clubs can benefit from affiliating with their National Governing Body, ensuring long-term growth and sustainability.

    BDA Programmes & Resources –Attendees learned about the various initiatives available to support their clubs, including:

• Club and Community Programme – Providing ongoing support and funding opportunities.

• Weeks of Learning – Offering training and educational resources.

• Club Health Checker – Helping clubs evaluate and improve their performance.

• Youth Sport Trust – School Games – Encouraging the next generation to get involved.

    New Game Formats - Attendees got the chance to try exciting formats like Bowls Bash and Premier3s, designed to attract new players and energise existing members.

National Governing Body Initiatives – Delivered together with our NGB partners, the roadshows highlighted key events and initiatives designed to increase participation, including:

• Bowls’ Big Weekend – A major opportunity to boost membership.

• Play Bowls – Supporting clubs in engaging new players.

• Premier 3s – A fresh, innovative take on competitive bowls.

    Safeguarding & Governance –Ensuring clubs remain safe, inclusive, and compliant was a key focus, with guidance provided to help clubs stay up to date with best practices.

    Q&A Sessions –Attendees had the opportunity to ask questions and gain tailored advice from our team.

A Huge Thank You!

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the clubs, volunteers, and organisations who took part, as well as to our host venues for their fantastic hospitality. Special thanks also go to our National Governing Bodies and partners for their continued support in making these Roadshows a success.

What’s Next?

If your club missed the roadshows or needs further support, don’t worry – we’re here to help! The BDA is committed to supporting clubs across England, providing guidance, resources, and opportunities to help you develop and grow.

📩 Get in touch with us today to find out how we can support your club’s journey.

Let’s keep the momentum going and continue working together to grow the game of bowls.

County Development Work for 2025

Following the fantastic engagement and enthusiasm seen throughout the roadshows, we are excited to continue our work in Norfolk, Kent, Cornwall, Worcestershire, and Yorkshire. Our focus now shifts to delivering tailored support for clubs in these counties through our County Development Programme, ensuring they have the tools and resources needed to thrive.

What’s Next?

The roadshows were just the beginning. Over the coming months, we will be identifying clubs within our targeted counties that would benefit from dedicated support, helping them strengthen their foundations, grow their membership, and enhance their community impact.

Community Club Programme

The Community Club Programme is at the heart of our county development work, offering hands-on guidance to clubs looking to improve their sustainability, participation, and overall success. Through this initiative, we will work closely with clubs to:

· Develop new opportunities to engage with local communities

· Offer support in recruiting and retaining members

· Implement new formats and platforms such as Bowls Bash and Play Bowls

· Ensure clubs have access to training, resources, and funding opportunities

Support Available to ALL Clubs

While we are delivering focused development work in these counties, our resources, guidance, and expertise remain available to all clubs across England. Any club, regardless of location, can benefit from:

·  Weeks of Learning and Education Platform – Free webinars and resources covering a wide range of topics

· Club Health Checker – Helping clubs evaluate and improve their performance

· BDA Programmes – Support through initiatives such as Bowl for Health and Youth Sport Trust School Games

Volunteer Support and Development

Volunteers play an essential role in sustaining and growing our sport. We are committed to ensuring that volunteers at all levels have access to training, resources, and a strong support network. Our development team will continue to work closely with clubs to provide guidance on recruiting, retaining, and recognising volunteers.

Strengthening Partnerships and Networks

A key element of our work is fostering collaboration between clubs, counties, and local organisations. We want to create a system where clubs are well-connected, enabling them to share best practices, access new opportunities, and benefit from national and regional initiatives.

Driving Inclusion in Bowls: Our Journey with Activity Alliance

We are committed to making bowls a sport for everyone. As part of this commitment, we recently took part in the Introduction to Leading Inclusion workshop, delivered by Activity Alliance, alongside our valued partners: Bowls England, English Indoor Bowling Association, and British Crown Green Bowling Association.

Held earlier this year, this training was a key step in our ongoing mission to tackle inequalities and improve accessibility for disabled people within our sport. The session focused on practical solutions to embed inclusion across our organisations and ensure that bowls is welcoming and accessible to all.

A Focus on Action

Following an insightful first day of training for senior leadership teams, the second day focused on planning and solutions, bringing together those responsible for engagement and delivery. We explored:✔ An ideal future – Defining what true inclusion looks like in bowls✔ Pillar Planning – Identifying key priorities for change✔ Focusing on solutions – Tackling barriers with practical actions✔ Action planning – Committing to long-term improvements

By reflecting on our current approaches and working collaboratively, we identified ways to enhance leadership, culture, communication, and workforce development to create a more inclusive environment.

Turning Plans into Progress

This training reinforced that inclusion isn’t a one-time project, it’s a continuous effort that requires dedication from all levels. We are now working on implementing the insights gained, ensuring that disabled people’s experiences are at the heart of our decision-making.

A huge thank you to Activity Alliance for leading this invaluable training and to our National Governing Body partners for their commitment to making bowls more inclusive. This is just the beginning, and we look forward to working together to drive real, lasting change.

As we conclude this edition of our Spring Newsletter, we would like to thank you for your continued support and engagement. The journey towards growing and developing bowls is one that we are proud to share with you, and we look forward to seeing even more exciting progress in the months ahead.

We will be back with our Summer Newsletter in a few months, bringing you more updates, success stories, and new initiatives to help your club thrive. In the meantime, if you are seeking tailored support or advice, our dedicated local development officers are available to assist you. To find out who your local officer is and to get in touch for any support, please visit our Club Development Programme page.

Additionally, we encourage all clubs to take advantage of our free Club Health Checker tool, designed to help you evaluate your club’s performance and identify areas for improvement.

We remain committed to supporting you and your club’s journey, and together, we can continue to grow the game of bowls for future generations.

Until next time, thank you for being part of the Bowls Development Alliance community.