Just Bowl | Supporting adults in care

Just Bowl is a fun, easy to play form of bowls that has been developed to take activity into care homes, rehabilitation centres, leisure facilities, community settings, educational establishments and many more.

Launched by the Bowls Development Alliance in 2014 as their community engagement programme, Just Bowl aims to improve the quality of life of everyone, including those who are considered too old or infirm to take part. The programme aimed at enabling the sport of bowls to be played anywhere, at any time, by anyone.

Just Bowl is an innovative programme that aims to improve the physical, mental and social wellbeing not only of those older people living in care homes but also those recovering from a long-term illness or accident who are looking to get back to a more active lifestyle.

It is inclusive for anyone to take part in, regardless of age or ability and can provide direct support to individuals who are in real need of improving their wellbeing both physically and mentally and in many cases reduce the social isolation they may be feeling.

Since its launch, Just Bowl has been used to target those aged 55 years, and people with a disability. In 2018 Just Bowl secured funding from Sport England to conduct a pilot of the programme.

The aim of the pilot was to explore the impact of the Just Bowl programme on care home residents and people affected by cancer.

Findings were positive and as a result Just Bowl continues to be funded by Sport England until December 2023 to support residents in care homes and conduct further research with a range of partners, including Headway, The Stroke Association, Versus Arthritis and the NHS.

Connie Dowe, Just Bowl team leader, said: “It has been great to see Just Bowl supporting adults in care, particularly those who have been greatly impacted by the pandemic. We have found that social isolation has been a barrier to residents’ well-being, and it has been wonderful to provide an opportunity for residents to have fun and interact with each other again.

“Just Bowl has been well received alongside the reintroduction to face-to-face sessions and it has been great to see residents getting active and enjoying Just Bowl one again. Our team are now working hard to provide training across the country and we hope to access as many homes and partner sites as possible in 2022 and 2023.”

Paige, lifestyle co-ordinator at Branksome Heights Care Home, added: “We had lots of fun setting up different ways to play bowls while discussing how the residents will participate and what aspects of the game they will enjoy the most. One of our residents was also observing the demonstration and decided to show us all how it’s done. He enjoyed the feel and weight of the bowls and the ease of how to play.”

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Our full feature on the Just Bowl programme can be found in the January 2022 issue of Bowls International.

Please contact the Just Bowl manager, Ian McCombes (ian@justbowl.org) or Just Bowl team leader, Connie Dowe (connie@justbowl.org) for further information on how to get your local care home involved.

You can also find Just Bowl on Facebook and Twitter or contact them through the BDA website.

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