Is your club losing members? Are you finding new member recruitment challenging? If yes, then…

Join the Bowls Development Alliance Club Development Programme that helps bowls clubs recruit an average of 20 new members per season!

Since 2017 the BDA has worked with over 100 clubs and used their expertise to inspire committees and volunteers to promote, transform and modernise their clubs and help them kick-start successful recruitment campaigns that bring new members.

The Club Development Programme offers Bowls England and EIBA-affiliated clubs across the country unique support to develop and better sustain their current membership numbers and recruit new members into the sport. Each club involved is allocated one of our Club Development Officers who will be working with the club committee throughout their engagement in the programme to:

  • Generate enthusiasm amongst club members and motivate them to volunteer and support the committee in its initiatives.
  • Promote and raise awareness about the club in its locality.
  • Target potential new members and introduce new bowlers to the sport.
  • Train the club volunteers to organise and facilitate fun open days that will leave a lasting positive influence on those completely new to the sport.
  • Re-structure the club and its activities to allow for the smooth integration of all new members.
  • Provide additional bespoke support depending on the club’s needs, including towards funding applications, issuing club surveys, improving the club’s accessibility, ensuring continuity in the work of the committee and more.

Every club that is part of the programme is eligible for funding worth of up to £500 towards their engagement in the initiative.

If you think that your club would benefit from being involved in the Club Development Programme, then please find the criteria for application below:

  • Clubs must be affiliated to either Bowls England or the English Indoor Bowling Association.
  • Clubs must have seen a net membership decline of 3% or more over the past 2 years.
  • Clubs must be willing to be proactive and take on tasks set out in a Development Plan.
  • Clubs must have a demonstrable capacity for membership growth.

The BDA encourages every club that meets the above criteria to apply to become part of the programme. The size and level of the club does not matter. They have worked successfully with a diverse range of clubs: indoor and outdoor, small and large, elite and social/recreational. To apply, clubs need to fill in and email a simple application form, which can be found at the bottom of this page.

THE APPLICATION WINDOW FOR OUTDOOR CLUBS IS CURRENTLY CLOSED. We will inform you as soon as the new application window opens. Indoor clubs still have a chance to apply until 31st August 2020.

As the BDA is expecting a high number of applications, we encourage clubs to apply as soon as possible to ensure a timely start. All applications will be reviewed periodically, and clubs will be informed about the outcome of their application in due course. Successful clubs will be approached by a BDA Club Development Officer to arrange an initial meeting and begin the engagement.

For more information about what the programme involves, its positive impact on clubs and how to apply, please contact the BDA on clubdevelopment@playbowls.org. You can also refer to the Club Development Programme Guidance Notes below.

Club Development Programme – Guidance Notes
Club Development Programme – Application Form

If you would like to speak to Bowls England regarding club development initiatives, contact Alistair Hollis on 07765 050408 or email alistair.hollis@bowlsengland.com and he would be pleased to assist you.

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