Some exciting news from Bowls Scotland an Official Charity Partner of Erskine

We are proud to be working together with Erskine, Bowls Scotland’s Official Charity Partner to maximise engagement with our sport amongst the Veteran community. For many years, bowling clubs throughout Scotland have chosen Erskine as their charity to support; and now with our partnership coming into its second year we are working together to continue supporting Veterans and their families through our inclusive sport.

Caring for Veterans for over a century, Erskine has three care homes and a Veterans’ Village in Bishopton, with 44 cottages, an Activities Centre, five Assisted Living Apartments and 24 Transitional Supported Apartments. Working alongside Bowls Scotland’s Development Team, we have created a plan to make bowls more accessible to these residents and to upskill Erskine’s staff and volunteers to be able to deliver fun, inclusive and accessible bowls coaching sessions.

The plan for these development sessions will be supported by Bowls Scotland staff and volunteers and includes the following:

20^th March: Intro to Bowls Coaching Course @ Erskine’s Bishopton Veterans Village

27^th March: Intro to Bowls Coaching Course @ Erskine’s Edinburgh Site

20^th April: Try Bowls Event @ ERMAC

June: Try Bowls Outdoor Event @ Local Bowing Club

This calendar then culminates with a new event at the end of the outdoor season:

9^th September: Veterans Pairs Open Competition

Delighted with the progress being made Sarah Pryde-Smith, Bowls Scotland’s Business Operations Manager said: “We are proud of our partnership with Erskine and the relationship that has developed over the last 9 months of working together. Our Development team and the Activities team at Erskine have been collaborating to create a Try Bowls programme for Erskine residents with the aim of having regular bowling activities available.

“We want to create long lasting links between Erskine sites across Scotland and the bowling community to ensure Veterans and their families have access to our wonderful game, whether that’s through Try Bowls days; entering the Erskine Veterans Open Pairs competition or becoming members at local bowling clubs.”   

Kirsten Wols, Deputy Head of Fundraising at Erskine said: “We are very excited to be progressing to the next stage of our partnership with Bowls Scotland.  We are looking forward to driving opportunities for Veterans to engage with the sport, which has been proven to have multiple therapeutic and physical benefits to participants. The ‘Coaching and Try Bowls’ days will give Erskine staff and Veterans the tools and knowledge with which to deliver even more bowling sessions with confidence.”

Keep an eye on Bowls Scotland’s website and social channels for more updates from our partnership with Erskine.     

To find out more about Erskine’s work please visit our website at www.erskine.org.uk, follow on twitter @ErskineCharity via Facebook www.facebook.com/ErskineVeteransCharity or listen to Erskine Veterans Radio at Erskine.org.uk/radio.  To donate directly to Erskine, please visit Erskine.org.uk/donate.