Bowls Development Alliance

03/09/2026

👉 Have your say: https://bit.ly/ClubAndVolunteerSurvey2026

18/08/2026

📢 Our August Safeguarding Bulletin is out now!

The latest Bowls Development Alliance safeguarding bulletin is now available, keeping clubs and volunteers up to date with important safeguarding information, guidance and updates.

🛡️ Read the August Safeguarding Bulletin and browse all previous bulletins on our website:

https://bowlsdevelopmentalliance.com/safeguarding-bulletins/



Bowls England The English Short Mat Bowls Association English Indoor Bowling Association British Crown Green Bowling Association (Official)

Safeguarding Bulletins Document Name Adobe PDF Themes August 2026 Click Here DBS update, national survey July 2026 Click Here Have your say survey Archive Document Name Adobe PDF Themes Bulletin 1 – Feb 2022 Click Here Safeguarding in bowls, The Care Act 2014, types of abuse Bulletin 2 – Apr 202...

16/08/2026

🎯 Bowls on the menu at Belvoir! 🎯

What a fantastic day at the Belvoir Education and Sports Family Fun Day today! ☀️

We were delighted to see Indoor bowls Melton Mowbray getting involved, giving around 30 people the opportunity to have a go at bowls and discover just how much fun the sport can be.

The club also had the chance to showcase what they offer and encourage visitors to come along and get involved. Hopefully we’ll see some new faces at the club as a result! 👏

A huge well done to everyone from Belvoir Education and Sport, and Melton Mowbray Indoor Bowls Club for giving their time and making everyone feel so welcome. They were a fantastic example of how friendly, inclusive and welcoming sport can be. 💚

Events like this are a brilliant way to introduce new people to bowls, break down the barriers to getting involved and show that there is a place for everyone in our sport. 🎉

10/08/2026

📣 Bowls club volunteers – we need to hear from you!

Have you completed our National Club and Volunteer Survey yet?

If the answer is no, please take 10 minutes to do it today. 🙏

We're asking volunteers from across bowls to help us understand what clubs really need and where the sport should focus its efforts over the next five years.

And when we say volunteers, we mean everyone.

Whether you:
🎯 Sit on the committee
🏆 Organise competitions
🗣️ Coach or support players
💚 Look after welfare
🌱 Help maintain the green
📋 Do the admin
☕ Help out at club events
🙌 Or simply lend a hand whenever you're needed

Your experience counts.

The BDA and the four National Governing Bodies are working together on this, and we need the views of the people who actually make bowls clubs work. The more volunteers who take part, the better picture we can build of what clubs need.

⏱️ It takes around 10 minutes
🔒 Responses are confidential
🎁 Complete the survey and choose to provide your email address to be entered into a prize draw to win a £250 Amazon Gift Voucher (terms and conditions apply).

📅 The survey closes Monday 7th September 2026.

👉 Have your say: https://bit.ly/ClubAndVolunteerSurvey2026

Please don't assume someone else will complete it. If you volunteer at a bowls club, we want to hear from you.

And please share this post with the volunteers at your club – particularly those who might not normally see bowls-related social media.


The English Short Mat Bowls Association Bowls England English Indoor Bowling Association British Crown Green Bowling Association (Official)

09/08/2026

☀️Bowls Big Summer at Doddington Short Mat Bowls Club! ☀️

Yesterday, one of our Development Officers, Annie, visited Doddington Short Mat Bowls Club as part of their Bowls Big Summer event. What a fantastic day it was! 👏

The club welcomed so many people through the doors, with people of all ages having a go at short mat bowls and discovering just how much fun the sport can be. It was brilliant to see the venue so busy and buzzing, with lots of new faces giving bowls a try. 💚

Normally a flat green bowler, Annie decided to turn her hand to short mat for a few ends… and we don’t think she did too badly! 😉🎯

The whole club was incredibly welcoming and friendly, creating a fantastic atmosphere for everyone who came along. It’s a brilliant example of how a Bowls Big Summer event can bring people together, introduce new people to bowls and showcase what a welcoming sport it is.

A huge thank you to everyone at Doddington Short Mat Bowls Club for putting on such a fantastic event and for making everyone feel so welcome. 👏

What a success, and what a brilliant way to get more people giving bowls a go! 💚


The English Short Mat Bowls Association

03/08/2026

Have you completed the National Club and Volunteer Survey yet? 👀

If not, we'd really appreciate 10 minutes of your time.

Whether you're a committee member, coach, welfare officer, greenkeeper, competition organiser, administrator or simply help out whenever your club needs you, we want to hear from you.

Your experiences will help the Bowls Development Alliance and the four National Governing Bodies build a shared understanding of what bowls clubs need and help shape the future of our sport over the next five years.

✅ Takes around 10 minutes
✅ Confidential responses
🎁 Complete the survey and choose to provide your email address to be entered into a prize draw to win a £250 Amazon Gift Voucher (terms and conditions apply).

Don't miss your chance to have your say.

👉 Complete the survey here: https://bit.ly/ClubAndVolunteerSurvey2026

📅 Survey closes Monday 7th September 2026.

Please help us reach as many bowls club volunteers as possible by sharing this post with your club and fellow volunteers.


The English Short Mat Bowls Association Bowls England British Crown Green Bowling Association (Official) English Indoor Bowling Association

02/08/2026

Yesterday, our Club and Community Development Officer Annie visited Washingborough Bowls Club to see their fantastic Bowls' Big Summer open day in action.

The club combined the event with a friendly match and Armed Forces Day celebrations, creating a welcoming atmosphere that attracted lots of people from the local community.

The day was a great success, with lots of people trying bowls for the first time, the club recruiting a new member and raising an incredible £500 for their local hospice. A wonderful achievement that highlights the positive impact bowls clubs can have both on and off the green.

At the Bowls Development Alliance, we're proud to support clubs that are creating opportunities to welcome new participants, strengthen community connections and showcase everything our sport has to offer.

A huge congratulations to everyone at Washingborough Bowls Club for hosting such a successful event. We hope it inspires more clubs to get involved with Bowls' Big Summer and make the most of opportunities to grow the game.


Bowls England

01/08/2026

With bowls in the spotlight at the Commonwealth Games and the World Championships coming to England next year, now is the time for clubs to capitalise on the increased visibility of our sport.

As we head into the final few weeks of the outdoor season, there's still plenty of opportunity to welcome new participants. Whether it's an open day, a taster session or simply inviting someone to have a go, every introduction to bowls can make a difference.

And with the indoor season just around the corner, clubs can continue that momentum and provide even more opportunities for people inspired by what they've seen to get involved.

At the Bowls Development Alliance, we encourage every club to make the most of this exciting period for our sport. Together, we can turn increased awareness into lasting participation and build towards an unforgettable World Championships in 2027.

How is your club planning to welcome new participants? We'd love to hear your ideas and see what you're doing to grow the game. ✨

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📖 The is the first time the event is being hosted in England in over 20 years, so don't miss out on this once in a generation opportunity to be a part of the history books.

🖊️ Sign up now for priority ticket access, and get to the front of the line to secure your spot and the most sought after days and matches, when tickets go on sale after the Games.

➡️ bit.ly/WBC27-PriorityAccess

22/07/2026

📣 Our 2025/26 Annual Report is now available!

We’re pleased to share the Bowls Development Alliance Annual Report for 2025/26, showcasing a year of progress, partnership and impact across the sport of bowls.

The report highlights our work with clubs, volunteers, communities and our National Governing Body partners, including:
🎯 More than 900 new participants engaged through dedicated community programmes
🏘️ 39 community sessions delivered across 36 clubs
💚 82% of regular Bowl for Health participants continuing to bowl or joining a club
📊 127 clubs completing the Club Health Checker
🏫 2,666 school students trying bowls for the first time through the School Games
📚 1,223 volunteers signing up for the Weeks of Learning

The report also explores our work across club development, equality, diversity and inclusion, safeguarding, education, governance and communications, as well as our priorities for the year ahead.

Thank you to all of the clubs, volunteers, partners and organisations who continue to work with us to sustain, grow and develop the sport of bowls.

📖 Read the 2025/26 Annual Report and explore our Reports & Documents:
https://bowlsdevelopmentalliance.com/about/reports-documents/



The English Short Mat Bowls AssociationEnglish Indoor Bowling AssociationBowls EnglandBritish Crown Green Bowling Association (Official)

For our annual reports, BDA strategy and accounts documents click here..