Bowls Club Grant Helps Keep Members Active

Bowls players with mobility challenges will be able to continue playing thanks to a grant of more than £2,000 from Swale Borough Council.

Borden Short Mat Bowls Club applied for the funding to have a special bowling wheelchair made to provide players experiencing mobility challenges the opportunity to continuing playing.

Norman Smith, treasurer at Borden short mat bowls club, told SFM News: “We’re delighted with the funding. We’ve wanted a bowls wheelchair at the club for a while. The wheelchair will help our players who are having trouble bending. We have a couple players who are waiting for hip replacements so this will help them continue to play and stay active while they wait. The wheels on these specialist chairs are underneath making them narrower and easier to use while playing bowls. The wheels are also much wider than your average wheelchair. We’ve ordered our chair and it’s being made so we hope to have the chair early next year.”

Cllr Richard Palmer, cabinet member for community at Swale Borough Council, told SFM News: “We made a commitment to make leisure and sporting activities accessible to each age group and ability, so when Borden bowls club approached us, we were pleased to help. This specialist bowls wheelchair will help promote wellbeing and enjoyment for our residents who are facing mobility challenges and that’s exactly what this funding is for".

Cllr Mike Baldock, Deputy Leader at the council, added: “This funding is from our special projects fund, which gives us the opportunity to support local projects that are important to you. It’s been a tough few years and we’re pleased to be able to provide the equipment needed for people facing mobility challenges to keep active.”