Just a reminder that all clubs have to have a safeguarding officer in place for when their greens open. If any new officers need a DBS or if existing officer’ DBS certificates are older than 3 years, then you can contact Sandie Whitaker on 07512 501 395, or by email at sandiewhitt@yahoo.co.uk to sort out a new certificate.

We want to make sure your club doesn’t miss out on Big Bowls Weekend 2025, running from Friday 23rd – Monday 26th May.

Many clubs have signed up already which is fantastic. This is an amazing opportunity for all clubs to:

✅ Attract new players and potential members – introduce people of all ages to Crown Green Bowls.

✅ Raise your club’s profile – be part of a national event with widespread promotion.

✅ Enjoy a fun, social event – bring your club together and create a welcoming atmosphere for visitors.

✅ No cost to take part – just sign up and make the most of the resources available!

So far, 149 Crown Green clubs have already registered – let’s get even more involved!

⏳ Sign-up closes on 24th March 2025, so don’t miss out.

📌 Register now at: www.bowlsbigweekend.com

If you have any questions or need help getting started, please get in touch with Ian Gill at Lancscountydevelopment@gmail.comLet’s make this the biggest Big Bowls Weekend yet and get more people enjoying our sport!

🚨Bowls’ Big Weekend is back for a fifth year!

And club sign-up is now OPEN. This is your chance to be part of a nationwide initiative, as our sport opens its doors to welcome potential new bowlers. Over 660 clubs signed up to take part in 2024 but we’re expecting 2025 to be bigger and better than ever before!

We are informed that materials will be ready earlier this year and posters etc will all contain crown green images. Follow it up with sessions for those that are interested. See our Development pages for help and advice or contact our Development Officer, Ian Gill.

Sign your club up today🔽
bit.ly/BBWSignUp

Find out more about Bowls’ Big Weekend🔽
bit.ly/BBW-FIND-OUT-MORE

Aviva | #BowlsBigWeekend

A coaching course has been arranged for Lancashire. There may be high demand for this course and there are only 12 places, so if you are able to attend then please sign up quickly.

The first two dates for the theory are zoom calls, and these are 9th and 23 April (6-9pm). The practical session will be held at Ormskirk Bowling Club on 8th May (9am-5pm) and the final assessment day also at Ormskirk on 12 June (9am-5pm).  The course costs £150. Apart from the insurance cost (which may be covered by your club) half can be claimed back from BCGBA and one quarter from Lancashire CCGBA on course completion. If you have any queries please contact Ian Gill, Lancashire Development Officer.

Bookings should be made on the Coach Bowls website – link below.

The BCGBA Rules Revision Meeting was held this afternoon and the key outcomes can be summarised below.

• The introduction of a £1 per player per club fee which will be ringfenced to fund the new BCGBA National Development Strategy. Lancashire will be providing clarification as to how this will be collected from clubs in due course after the AGM next weekend. This will be for a minimum of 3 years and all outcomes will be reported on annually.
• Clarification in the rules that any bowls travelling over a footer must be returned.
• The maximum weight of a bowl has been set at 3lb.
• Clarification in the rules that a disturbed bowl will be treated the same as a disturbed jack.
• Nicotine inhalers have been added to the list of devices that cannot be used on the green during play (unless there is a medical exemption).
• Clarification that players will not be allowed to play in bare or stocking feet.
• A proposal to add practice for Ladies County matches was not carried.
• The 18-23 Open Championship has been amended to 18-25.
• Changes to the structure of the World Club Team Championship have been made to have a group structure for the qualifying rounds and its name has been changed to the ‘World Team Championship.

As part of the Bowls Development Alliance’s Week of Learning there are a host of short free online courses available next week. These are on such subjects as Safeguarding, marketing your club, applying for funding and engaging with your community. Visit https://bowlsdevelopmentalliance.com/education/ for more information.

Happy Christmas to all Lancashire bowlers and your families. We hope you have a wonderful day.

Attached is the draft Development Strategy that is due to be considered at the BCGBA AGM alongside the £1 a player proposal to fund it.  The table at the end of the draft strategy sets out how the monies will be spent to invest in the sport.  This includes in coaching and equipment that would be purchased to be used by clubs in Lancashire, as well as better publicity and promotion for the sport.

Please see the attached letter about how to renew your annual insurance if you previously used the Endsleigh Club Portal. You may already have had this off the County Secretary but there have been a few email issues. The Policy Documents will be posted soon.