Bowls England, working alongside the Bowls Development Alliance (BDA), is continuing to expand its range of services to affiliated clubs to support you in managing your club more effectively.
All Bowls England affiliated clubs benefit from the support of the Bowls Development Alliance (BDA) who is delighted to launch the Club Health Checker. This online tool will help your club to understand its strengths and areas for improvement across a number of key areas including club membership, recruitment and finance.
The new platform will be available free of charge to any of our affiliated clubs and aims to help you to get a better understanding of the financial health of your club, your development needs and to support growth in membership.
All you need to do is complete a 30-minute survey that will create a report customised to your club. Once you have received your report, you can book a free appointment with one of the BDA team to discuss your report and get guidance in the creation of an action plan. It is not a ‘Pass or Fail’ assessment but rather a tool to help committees assess the current condition of the club and identify areas for development.
Jon Cockcroft, Bowls England Chief Executive, said: “One of the top priorities within our ‘Fit for the Future’ strategy is to support our bowls community. Volunteers are the lifeblood of our sport, and their endeavours directly affect the experience of its participants. We have a duty to give them support and guidance, therefore we are delighted to have worked together with the BDA to create this new resource for all of our affiliated clubs in order that we can then work together to develop and grow our sport.”
This initiative is part of a range of enhanced services we’re offering Bowls England affiliated clubs with a huge summer ahead of us. A home Commonwealth Games gives our sport a fantastic opportunity to inspire more people to play bowls and the Bowls Big Weekend, a new online rink booking service and a new, casual form of our game are going to help forward-thinking clubs to attract new players.
To find out more about the Club Health Checker, click here
We have compiled some FAQs regarding the Club Health Checker below, but if you find there is something unanswered, please get in touch with the BDA team.
What does the Club Health Checker consist of?
Two things:
1. A detailed self-assessment with questions for the club committee to answer.
2. A bespoke report that assesses your club’s level of development and gives you a set of recommendations that will help you improve further.
What questions will be asked?
The questions within the form are separated into the five sections.
1. Club Membership
2. Recruitment & Activities
3. Structure & Workforce
4. Finance & Facilities
5. Safeguarding
How long does it take to complete?
It should take you between 30-45 minutes to complete the form.
Who should be involved?
We recommend the entire committee get involved in this process, to present an accurate picture of your club, as it is unlikely that one club official will have all the information required. You will be asked questions about your membership size and breakdown, finances, club lease and structure, workforce, and qualifications.
Do I have to complete it all at once?
No. You can save your progress at any time and share the assessment link between the committee, all without the need to create a username or password.
Who will see the data I submit?
No individual data that you submit to us about your club or individuals within your club will be shared with any third parties.
How long does the Club Health Checker take to generate a report?
The report is automatic and will be accessible to download immediately after you complete the assessment. You will also receive a copy of the report by email.
What's included in the report?
The report will include:
• Your score in each section, as well as an overall score.
• A score for six additional characteristics that contribute to a well-run club
• A bespoke list of recommendations and actions you can take to improve your score.
• Further support (templates, resources, workshops, and other content) you can access that is relevant to your recommendations.
How often can I complete the Club Health Checker?
You will be able to access the Club Health Checker tool at any time and we encourage you to use this tool at least once a year. As you work on the recommendations, we have given you, you can complete the questionnaire again to receive an updated report with your new score and the next set of actions.
What benefit will it bring to my club?
The Club Health Checker Self-Assessment tool offers the clubs an opportunity to understand their strengths and areas for development. By completing the process clubs and volunteers will also get direction on how to improve on their areas for development which links to resources, courses, and information. By carrying out the Club Health Checker on an annual basis clubs can continually check on their development supporting them to become more sustainable and proactive in their development with support and help.