Lottery grant for Burghfield Bowls Club
The West Berkshire club, the first mixed bowls club for both men and women when it was formed in 1990, was asked to leave its current site in Reading Road, Burghfield, by landowners, Burghfield Golf Club.
Now the club has secured £50,000 from the lottery and £5,000 from Greenham Common Trust to finance the construction of a new home at Burghfield Community Sports Association, James Lane, Burghfield.
Club captain and one of the founding members, Kevin Belcher, said: “We’re delighted to have received lottery funding to develop our facilities and secure our long-term future as part of Burghfield Community Sports Association.
“We were very lucky to get £50,000 because it’s the maximum amount that a club can apply for.”
Construction at the new site is due to start this autumn, with the ground expected to be ready in spring 2014.
Before the new facility opens the club is keen to boost its membership, with two open days organised on August 13 and August 20, both at 6.30pm.
Mr Belcher said: “Historically we set up as the first mixed club in the county and that’s why we’ve attracted lots of members.
“We currently have just over 60 members but our aim is to have about 85 members at our new home.
“We are known for Delighted at Burghfield – the bowls club now has funding to secure its future long term being a very friendly club.
“It’s also a very social sport. We play a lot of friendly games as well as competitive matches.”
Sport England’s regional manager for the south, Hannah Bladen, was delighted that the club has been able to fund a new home.
She said: “If community sports clubs want to attract and retain participants, they need to be able to offer quality facilities for everyone.
“The improvements to Burghfield Bowls Club’s facilities will be welcomed by regular users and those who are new to lawn bowls.”
For more information about Burghfield Bowls Club, including a three day coaching course in September, visit the club’s website at www.sportstation.co.uk/clubs/bu r g h f i e l d -bowlsclub
