Crawford Park Bowling Club in Monkseaton, which was named the national club of the year in 2025, is opening its doors to encourage more people to try the sport. The club is one of more than 900 clubs across England taking part in the Bowls’ Big Summer campaign.
Club Achievements and Accessibility
The club earned the national award after doubling its membership and fostering a highly welcoming community. Volunteers have worked hard to make the sport accessible to everyone by installing a wheelchair ramp and accessible toilets. Club secretary Brian Bell believes that getting on the green offers massive benefits for both physical and mental health.
Brian Bell, club secretary, said: “We want bowls to be for everybody. We are a competitive club too, we won two leagues last year and are proud of that, but we offer loads of social sessions that allow people to come and have a roll up and have fun.”
Mental Health and Social Benefits
Bell emphasized the holistic benefits of the sport. “There are so many benefits, the cup of tea afterwards is just as important for your mental health as the exercise is for your body, so we encourage everyone to come along,” he said.
The club's focus on fun and accessibility has helped attract a much more diverse group of players over the last three years. Previously, the average age of the members was 80, but the club now has more than 20 women and five juniors playing regularly.
Bowls’ Big Summer Campaign
The nationwide campaign is running throughout the summer to get people of all ages and abilities active. Locals can enjoy relaxed open days, family sessions, and special coaching at the park until the end of September. Bell added: “It’s great to be involved with Bowls’ Big Summer, we’ve got so much planned. We’ve been doing Bowls Bash games for new players, demonstrations from visually impaired players, family sessions on a Saturday and we’re really excited to be hosting a Commonwealth Games fun day.”
The national campaign is delivered by a partnership of major bowling associations to help people discover the game. To find your nearest green and book a session, visit www.play-bowls.com.
