Cullingworth Pages Press - 00129

Cullingworth Bowling Club. 2024, a year of progress Subsequent to the Club approving a Five year plan for its development and progression as an all- inclusive crown green bowling facility for the local community and surrounding area we are delighted to announce that the year 2024 has been particularly successful. Initially we were able to successfully obtain a grant from Sport England towards club improvements and further development of coaching and safeguarding capabilities, the costs of developing our own dedicated website, www.cullingworthbowlingclub. co.u, and the staging of a Family Fun Open Day. The grant has enabled the club to purchase a covered shelter with provision for wheelchair access and an additional secure metal storage shed to accommodate additional sports equipment and groundkeeping materials. The grant also covered the cost of Bowls Coaching Instructors courses and Safeguarding Certification courses and as a result we shall have four Level 1 Coaches and three Safeguarding Officers in place for the beginning of the 2025 season. Additional grant funding was obtained from the Bingley Bubble which was used to purchase eight sets of junior bowls for use by youngsters wishing to participate in the sport. Part of the Sport England grant was also used to purchase ‘Bowls Buddies’ kits for 32 children which has been extensively utilised on our green by the local Primary School as an adjunct to their sports curriculum. To date we have had 180 pupils involved in this. This has been achieved with some considerable outside knowledge and support being kindly given us by Haworth Bowling Club. The Family Fun Open Day was particularly successful and was partially responsible in the club attracting 16 new members to date, some of whom have already began playing in our league matches. Significant ongoing interest is also being shown from within the local community and surrounding area. Links with Cullingworth First School have been extremely encouraging and 180 pupils attended two full morning coaching sessions and also watched our A and B teams on Monday afternoons. As a result, the school has already booked in another 180 pupils for next year with possible links to timetable additions. We initiated a coffee morning for primary school staff and parents which resulted in some fun sessions on the bowling green. It is hoped to continue these sessions accordingly throughout next season. We also ran free newcomers sessions on Thursday evenings 6.30 to 7.30pm and plan to continue this throughout the 2025 season in addition to the free Junior sessions we ran on Saturday mornings 10.30 to 11.30am. THE FUTURE New members are always welcome and we shall continue to develop our membership and progress the involvement of junior players between the ages of 7yr to 18yr. If you would like more information about the club or wish to join us then please visit our website at www.cullingworthbowlingclub.co.uk or drop us an email to info@cullingworthbowlingclub.co.uk The recently seen increase in membership will hopefully continue with another Fun Open day planned for the early part of the year and through other promotional avenues such as social media sites and the website. We have recently received a further grant from Cullingworth Village Council which will fund the purchase of lighter-weight bowls for use within our planned ‘Bowls 4 Health’ initiative aimed at providing the facility for people looking to improve their physical and/or mental health, an initiative endorsed by the NHS. Our next aim is to obtain funds for additional security fencing to the side of the clubhouse Robin Jackson, Cullingworth Bowling Club