Bowls Scotland support SDS Parasport Festivals
Bowls Scotland have been delighted to attend and deliver Try Bowls workshops at two recent Parasport Festivals, introducing children from Dumfries and Galloway and Lanarkshire to our wonderful game, in collaboration with Scottish Disability Sport (SDS.) The festivals provide a safe and inclusive setting for primary and secondary school age children to try a range of sports, with qualified coaches delivering fun sessions for young people with physical disabilities, hearing loss and vision impairments. The children not only have the opportunity to discover a range of sports but meet other children with similar impairments.
Bowls Scotland’s Disability Development Officer, Stuart Chesby sees these festivals as a great opportunity to showcase just how inclusive Bowls can be as a sport. He said:
“It has been fantastic to be involved in the SDS Parasport Festivals both in 2024 and now again in 2025. The fun games we deliver as part of our Try Bowls set up can be adapted to suit any age, regardless of disability, ensuring that every person who comes to try our sport can have a go and have fun.”
Keen to inspire the next generation of Scottish bowlers, Stuart invited along some bowling VIPs to help him deliver the recent coaching sessions in Dumfries and Ravenscraig. Both Rosemary Lenton (Commonwealth Gold Medallist) and Stuart Stevens (IBD World Champion) completed the Introduction to Bowls Coaching Award (IBCA) in January 2025 and were willing to put their new coaching skills to the test at their local Parasport Festivals. Rosemary, of Crichton Royal BC, who attended the event at DG1 in Dumfries in February said:
“It's great to see the kids enjoying the action and everything about it. They’re so excited and thrilled with it. And it just shows you can adapt things to suit every ability. I think that was one big things that Adam said to us (on the IBCA course), you know, they don't have to go from that particular spot. If they're not able, you move the starting point and you adapt it to suit them. And that's really what's so great. I mean, we've had several groups come through here and they've got different disabilities, but they're all able to do it and compete against each other and have fun – and that’s really what it should be about!”
Stuart Stevens, of Greenfaulds BC, supported the Lanarkshire-based Festival and reflecting on his experience there said:
“It was a fantastic experience. There were students with a variety of disabilities from physically disabled, power chairs and visually impaired. We, the coaches, had to adapt for every group with each group requiring different communications and demonstrations. As a coach it makes us more flexible with our audience, meeting needs not just of a group but everyone within that group’s individual requirements.
Seeing some of the kids having a level of enthusiasm which was off the chart and being open to trying something new was incredible to witness. Also seeing the smiles on their faces as they enjoyed their experience and their determination to compete with each other. Their senses of humour was so infectious.”
Supporting these Parasport Festivals supports both Bowls Scotland’s Mission of Removing the barriers that restrict participation and Objective of A diverse and accessible sport. Stuart (Chesby) told us more about Bowls Scotland’s commitment to these areas:
“Our Disability Development Plan is set for public launch towards the end of May and reflects three of the four objectives within the 2024-8 Bowls Scotland strategy. These strategic objectives are; Strong and sustainable clubs, A modern and progressive sport & A diverse and accessible sport. Involvement in these fantastic Scottish Disability Sport Para Sports Festivals will play a key part in ensuring we are breaking down barriers to entry for individuals with disabilities. Bowls is one of the most inclusive sports available, however as a traditional sport we can take this for granted, at times neglecting to highlight this to a wider audience outside of the realms of our bowling clubs. Over the coming months we will be looking to provide education and upskilling opportunities for our key volunteers and staff for those that have little or no experience of engaging with bowlers with a disability in a sports setting.
“With one in ten people in Scotland having a disability, there is the opportunity for clubs to diversify membership both on and off the bowling green which is only going to benefit clubs and the sport overall and align to our values of Teamwork; Inclusion; Integrity, Clarity, and Ambition. As a governing body, to achieve these objectives we need to work collectively as a bowls community. We have a few exciting projects coming up over the coming months including a Disability Try Bowls Day in partnership with Scottish Disability Sport and Disability Sport Glasgow. We will also introduce a new project at our National Championships this July, Our Disability Awareness Day which is going to provide the opportunity to showcase disability inclusion through on the green demonstrations of bowling aids / adaptions. There will be the opportunity for anyone to have a try as well as a chance for individuals to upskill and take knowledge back to their clubs and spread the word on disability inclusion. More on our Nationals Disability Awareness Day will be released in the coming months as plans take shape.”
Bowls Scotland are committed to ensuring the fun experience of bowls doesn’t stop at the Parasport Festivals for these young people with disabilities and our Development team work together with our clubs to provide quality and accessible environments for all across Scotland. If you or your club are looking to provide opportunities for participation for new or experienced bowlers with any disability or need assistance in removing the barriers that exist, whether real or perceived, within bowls, please contact Stuart via stuartchesby@bowlsscotland.com for more information or to read more about para bowls and view our full equipment guide, click here.