(l-r): Cllr Debbie Cattell, Jim Neal (Millway Councillor and member of The Sofa Club), Andover Bowling Club President Dave Corbett, Cllr Jan Budzynsk and Cllr Iris Andersen.
Local club bowled over by Council grant and community funding
Andover Bowling Club will soon be able to offer people with mobility issues a better chance to get into the sport thanks to funding from a Test Valley Borough Councillor Community Grant alongside money from local organisation, The Sofa Club
Total funding of £950 will allow the club to purchase a specialist wheelchair allowing less mobile members to move up and down the bowling green more easily.
The club, which has members aged 12 to over 90, offers outdoor bowling to all – giving everyone the chance to get some gentle exercise and companionship in a competitive or social sporting environment.
Sue Milton, from Andover Bowling Club, said, “The new wheelchair will initially be used by three of our members who have mobility issues. It will also open the possibility of club membership to more people in the community with mobility challenges.
“Our membership is now at 140 and increasing every year. We feel it is important to include as many people as possible to a sport that is open to so many, and we thank both organisations for their donations, which gives us the opportunity to get even more people involved.”
A £450 Council grant was awarded as part of the Councillor Community Grant scheme, operated by all Test Valley Borough Councillors to help organisations in their wards. Find out more, including how to apply at: testvalley.gov.uk/councillorscommunitygrants
Cllr Iris Andersen said: “These grants from Test Valley Borough Council allow us to make a real difference in our communities. My fellow St Mary’s ward councillors and I are delighted to have supported Andover Bowling Club to allow more people to participate in this gentle and extremely accessible sport.”
A further £500 was donated by local fundraising organisation, the Sofa Club, who run Music on the Test as well as lots of other fundraising events including wine tastings, cream teas, mayoral balls, smaller music events and murder mystery evenings.