Bowls Scotland recognised in Scottish Enterprise Awards 2025
Bowls Scotland is delighted to share that at the end of 2025 we were recognised in two categories of the SME News Scottish Enterprise Awards. These national awards aim to recognise individuals and businesses for innovation, excellence and outstanding service across a wide range of categories. Bowls Scotland has been recognised within the 2025 list for: Most Inclusive Sports Governing Body and Mental Health Through Sports Commitment and Dedication. You can find us on the A-Z listing of winners, by clicking here.
With a wealth of work being done within our sport to promote inclusion, from grass roots through to governing body level, Bowls Scotland were delighted to be awarded the title of Most Inclusive Governing Body 2025. As a sport that can be played by all ages and abilities, bowls is a sport that anyone can find success in whether for gentle exercise and socialising or for competition on the national and international stage. Some of the highlights from our work on equality and inclusion over the last year included:
- Launching a Disability Landscape Survey to better identify areas needing development to remove barriers to participation across our sport.
- Supporting Scottish Disability Sports (SDS) Para Sports Festivals, introducing approximately 150 children with disabilities to our sport and signposting them to accessible, local clubs.
- Appointing a dedicated staff member for Safeguarding, providing an increase in the number of Child Wellbeing and Protection Courses offered and PVG checks processed compared to previous years.
- Continuing to monitor the imagery we share to ensure it is representative of the diversity of our sport.
In 2023 Bowls Scotland were the first Scottish Sports Governing Body to complete SAMH’s Route Map for Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace and continue to support our staff, volunteers and members to prioritise their mental health and wellbeing. Bowls Scotland’s SAMH Charter Action Plan was updated in early 2025, ensuring we continue to protect time for physical activity, volunteering and catch ups as a team as well as the continued development of staff through the SAMH Route Map training sessions and monthly 1-1 meetings. In May 2025 we also introduced a ‘Bowls Blether’ social media campaign, posing a new question each month for members to spark a mental health conversation.
To find out more about these awards and view the full winners list, please visit: https://smenews.digital/awards/scottish-enterprise-awards/