Bowled Over at Partickhill
Partickhill Bowling and Community Club have been awarded £2,000 funding from the Postcode Community Trust, supported by players of the Peoples Postcode Lottery, to provide an inter-generational bowling programme over the next year called Bowled Over. This programme, for 18-25 year olds and over 60’s is to help reduce social isolation and increase physical and mental health and well-being of participants.
Participants receive bowling tuition from Club bowlers each week and play a few games of bowls. Participants also receive a hot meal and a drink, providing more time for social interaction between the different age groups. Additionally, they receive a programme t-shirt and at the end of the six weeks will be given a certificate of achievement as part of a celebration event.
Angela Gregory, Bowled Over Programme Manager said, “The concept of Bowled Over was developed as the Club has recently become both a bowling and community club and I was looking for ideas to include the community more in using the club’s best asset, the bowling green. Traditionally, lawn bowls has been seen to be an older man’s game. There is a real drive by Bowls Scotland and clubs like us to make Bowls more modern, to appeal to all ages and to encourage more female participation. Bowled Over is a forward-thinking approach to attract more people to try bowls, particularly the younger generation. At the same time, Bowled Over’s aim is to tackle loneliness by providing the platform for participants to foster new friendships and improve their health and well-being by getting them moving more and be physically active, all of which is a fantastic way of improving mental health “
Sandra White, MSP has been at the club recently to try bowls and agrees “As Convenor of CPG Older People, I’m only too aware how loneliness and isolation can affect the physical and mental health of older people and that is why I am delighted to support this innovative initiative and congratulate all involved.”
Bowled Over started on 22 August with both age groups bowling and participating in some fun indoor activity.
One of the participants, Richard Dickson, 22, said, “Bowled over is a fantastic initiative which brings generations together through a fun and stress free sport. It creates friendships between younger and older people through mediums you wouldn't otherwise achieve elsewhere. Would definitely recommend to other people - young and old!"
The next block of sessions will start in the Spring. To register or for more info, contact Angela info@partickhillbowls.co.uk
You never know - you may just be Bowled Over!
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