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Author: Bina Nathwani

Final Disability Bowls England Photo

Posted on by Bina Nathwani

Final DBE Photo 2024

My 4 years as Chairperson of Disability Bowls England (DBE) Charity trust has come to an end at midnight on the 31 December, as the next chapter of disability bowls in England is about to be written with all activities being managed by Bowls England (BE) and the English Indoor Bowling Association (EIBA), taking the game to next level of sports inclusivity for all .

At the start of this volunteering journey, I never realised that discrimination of disabled people still existed within the sports world, but hopefully with the help of a loyal band of trustees, volunteers, and players we have changed the minds of many in the bowls world by showcasing our ability, not disability, throughout the UK and on the world stage.

But our biggest success story has been the DBE Bowls family. Our membership has grown from 140 in 2021 to over 500 active members today playing bowls across all codes of the game with likeminded people and alongside fellow able-bodied club members as equals, with over 200 disabled friendly clubs actively promoting our sport for all with the introduction of specialist adapted bowling equipment and walking aids which have extended the playing careers for so many people who wish to play the sport of bowls. It is still one of a few sports where 3 generations of the same family can play a sport together regardless of ability, gender, or age.

The past 40 years of disability bowls in England has been a rollercoaster ride for so many dedicated trustees and volunteers and I leave you all, knowing that the future of disability bowls in England at all levels, from first time grassroots and club players to International, Commonwealth Games and World Championship squads, looks very bright and secure for many years to come.

Finally, a massive thank you to the DBE Bowls Family for this amazing journey and the many life lessons learnt in the sport of Bowls and the Disability Sports Charity sector.

As the Sunsets on this journey, another Sunrise will raise again soon!!!!!

Steve Watson
Disability Bowls England Chairperson 2020-2024

Team England Indoor Para Squad

Posted on by Bina Nathwani

Disability Bowls England, in partnership with the English Indoor Bowling Association, is pleased to announce the Team England Indoor Para Squad selected to play in the Test Match against the Irish Bowls Federation from 10-12 January 2025 at Solihull IBC as follows:

Classification Name Club County
B2 Stephen Hartley Exonia Devon
B3 John Hollowell Bridgman BC Bedfordshire
B3 Alison Yearling Plymouth Life Centre Devon
B4 Sally-Ann Lewis-Wall Barwell Leicestershire
       
Directors: Beata Hollowell Bridgman Bedfordshire
  Isaac Shieh Century Bowling & Sports Club Middlesex
  Elizabeth Shipley Barwell Leicestershire
  Chris Venn   Warwickshire
       
B6 Craig Bowler Wellingborough BC Northamptonshire
  Joe Peplow Malvern Hills Worcestershire
B7 Steve Angus Stanley Durham
  Fynn Kyser Wellingborough Northamptonshire
  Jennie Sandford Grattons Sussex
  Helen Wood (Captain) York & District Yorkshire
B8 David Fisher Colchester Essex
  John Greaves Wellingborough Northamptonshire

Judy Plater
National Development & Administrative Officer

DBE Diary Indoor 2024/25 Season Updated 2 October 2025

Posted on by Bina Nathwani
October 2024 Event Venue Time
06 October DBE Friendly Five Rivers IBC 2pm
16 October DBE Friendly Leicester IBC 2pm
19/20 October EALABA Drawn Pairs Tamworth IBC All Day
November      
07 November DBE Friendly Bromley IBC 2pm
11 November DBE Friendly Northampton and District IBC 2pm
December      
8 December DBE Friendly Mid Glos IBC 2pm
14 December DBE Celebration Day Gedling IBC 12pm to 8pm
January 2025      
5 January Friendly Fixture Barwell IBC 2pm
10/12 January Irish Test Series Solihull IBC All Day
29 January Friendly Fixture EIBA President Essex (6 rinks) 1.30pm
February      
09 February Friendly Fixture Northamptonshire County – Desborough IBC 2pm
15/16 February VIBE Open Pairs Nottingham IBC All Day
22/23 February Multi Disability Open Singles Gedling IBC All Day
March      
2 March EALABA Friendly Gedling IBC 2pm
8/9 March Multi Disability Open Pairs Solihull IBC All Day
29 March to 17 April EIBA National Finals Nottingham IBC All Day
April      
2 April Multi Disability Champ of Champs Nottingham IBC TBA
13 April EALABA Friendly Tamworth IBC 2pm
14 April Multi Disability Open Pairs Nottingham IBC TBA
17 April Multi Disability North v South Nottingham IBC TBA
23/24 April LDIBIS Munro Cup Wales All Day
26/27 April VIBE Triples Nottingham IBC All Day

Empowering Disabled People Through Sport

Posted on by Bina Nathwani

Every Body Moves
We are proud to support Every Body Moves (EBM), an initiative dedicated to helping disabled people across the UK become more active. EBM is an activity finder and provides comprehensive information and advice on accessible sports clubs and activities, making it easier for everyone to participate in physical activity.

Join us in promoting inclusivity and physical activity by exploring the resources available on the EBM website. Whether you’re looking for accessible sports clubs, activities, or ways to get involved, EBM is your go-to source for making sports accessible to all.

Visit Every Body Moves today to learn more and find accessible sports opportunities near you.

Indoor fixtures and events

Posted on by Bina Nathwani

Disability Bowls England (DBE) working in Partnership with The English Indoor Bowling Association (EIBA) are pleased to announce the planned Indoor fixtures and events to date for the 2024/2025 indoor season.

Judy Plater will remain the first point of contact for all friendly social fixtures (until 31 Dec), and we will be announcing the competitions formats etc once the full review process from October between DBE, EIBA & Bowls England have been completed.

In the meantime, please save the dates:

September 2024 Event Venue Time
15 September Plant Welding Pairs Gedling BC All Day
21/22 September EALABA Singles Tamworth IBC All Day
21 September; DBE Friendly (Outdoors) Watford and District Association Hemel Hempstead BC Taster session 12 Match 1.30 pm
27 September DBE Friendly Swale IBC 2pm
October      
6 October DBE Friendly Five Rivers IBC 2pm
11 October DBE Friendly Leicester IBC 2pm
19/20 October EALABA Drawn Pairs Tamworth IBC All day
November      
11 November DBE Friendly Northampton and District IBC 2pm
December      
8 December DBE Friendly Mid Glos IBC 2pm
14 December DBE Maggy Smith MBE Celebration Event Gedling IBC 2pm to 8pm
January 2025      
5 January Friendly Fixture Barwell IBC 2pm
10 January Friendly Fixture Northamptonshire county IBC 2pm
29 January Friendly Fixture EIBA President Essex (6 rinks) 1.30pm
February      
15/16 February VIBE Indoor Pairs Nottingham IBC All Day
22/23 February Multi Disability Open Singles Gedling IBC All Day
March      
2 March EALABA Friendly Gedling IBC 2pm
8/9 March Multi Disability Open Pairs Solihull IBC All Day
29 March to 17 April EIBA National Finals Nottingham IBC All Day
April      
2 April Multi Disability Singles Champ of Champs Finals Nottingham IBC S/F 9am Finals 1pm
13 April EALABA Friendly Tamworth IBC 2pm
14 April Multi Disability Open Pairs Finals Nottingham IBC 9am
17 April Maggie Smith MBE North v South Shield Nottingham IBC 11am
23/24 April LDIBIS Munro Cup Wales All Day
tbc VIBE Indoor Triples Nottingham All Day

Official Statement from Disability Bowls England Charity Trust Trustees Monday 5 August 2024

Posted on by Bina Nathwani

It is with some sadness, that the Trustees of Disability Bowls England Charity Trust (DBE) have decided the best way forward for our members and future bowlers with a disability, giving everyone the opportunity to play the game of bowls across all bowls codes in England, is that DBE will disband on the 31 Dec 2024 and its activities will be managed by Bowls England and the English Indoor Bowling Association (EIBA). Continue reading “Official Statement from Disability Bowls England Charity Trust Trustees Monday 5 August 2024”

DBE July Newsletter

Posted on by Bina Nathwani


July Final Newsletter

Chairperson’s message,

Wow ,what a fabulous July our DBE members are having—It all started with a Silver Medal for the DBE Outdoor Para Home Nations squad in Scotland followed with more and more our members fighting through the various county competitions and rain in the race to Royal Leamington Spa. We look forward to seeing them on the bowls greens in August, which once again will be a biggest showcase for inclusivity
of our sport on the largest bowls stage in England.

Congratulations to all the winners that will represent DBE, their club and county at this year Aviva Bowls England National finals 2024. I am looking forward to witnessing some excellent bowling and the top players crowned national champions 2024. We also had the great honour of friendly social fixtures against the Royal Household Bowls Club Windsor, Bridgman BC and with our fabulous supporters The Friends of English Bowling at Bredon BC

DBE Competition Schedule – Aviva National Finals

This year to celebrate and showcase how far we have come as an organisation these past 40 years in England, we would like to do something different for our DBE events and hope you will give us your full support, to show we are still “ ONE TEAM DBE – PLEASE”

DBE Open Pairs Final
Sunday 25 Aug – 9.15am trials, 9.30am start – Live streamed tbc

Johnathan Stokes & Jack Pullin (DBE International Shirts) v Craig Bowler & John Greaves (Wellingborough Club Shirts)

DBE Open Singles Final
Thursday 29 Aug – 12.45pm trials, 1pm start – Live streamed tbc

Kieran Rollings (County Shirt v Fynn Kyser (DBE Red/Blue Shirt)

DBE Maggy Smith MBE North v South Challenge Shield
Saturday 31 Aug – 2pm start – (18 ends or 2hrs 15 min)

We would like to showcase how far we have come in the past 40 years and everybody to wear their outdoor club shirt apart from the 12 nominated skips who we would like to wear our traditional red/blue shirts please

DBE Mixed Ability Triples
Sunday 1 Sep – 2pm start (Everybody in DBE Red/Blue Shirts, blue bottoms)

I and my fellow trustees are very aware that there are many false rumours flying around about the future of Disability Bowls England (DBE) as a charity organisation which have been circulating around various social media sites and friendship groups which are causing extra stress and concerns for our membership. We wish to reassure everybody that we have been negotiating hard for the past 12 months with various organisations to ensure the future of Disability Bowls is safe and sound in England and the next chapters of our 40-year history can be written for ALL our membership and not just the selected few, we deliver what we promise and not sit back and let the other people do all the work then start rumours!!!

We ask once again that the people who are sharing these rumours in public think about the damage, they are doing to our negotiating process and position as more questions have to be answered, which in turn slows down a final agreement being signed off by all concerned and an official announcement then being made.!!!!

I have no hidden agenda nor am I on the Kings nomination list for a gong this Christmas; Judy is still employed by DBE (21 Hours a week); I and the rest of the Trustees & volunteers are not paid a wage by DBE: We have not spent any charity funds on ourselves. Every penny we have received can be accounted for as our fully audited accounts are published on the Companies House and Charity Commission web sites and finally, we still wear DBE shirts for all social fixtures and All DBE competitions.

To end on a very positive note – With the emergency financial savings we put in place at the end of last year and with the extra donations we have received since Christmas, we are actively planning to take part in the indoor season up to the EIBA National Finals in April 2025 and run Disability awareness, taster days and IBD Classification clinics . More information will be published once we are fully confident, and we have agreed way forward for ALL.

As always, I and the Trustees only have the best interest for Disability Bowls England Charity Trust and its Membership at heart and will continue to drive the organisation forward.

I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible throughout August and at the Aviva Bowls National Finals 2024.

DBE July Newsletter here.

Steve
DBE Chairperson