Inclusion & Accessibility

Biddenden Bowls Club is committed to providing facilities and support to bowlers of all ages and abilities and to ensure that the Club is accessible and inclusive to all, including those with any form of impairment or disability.

In recent years many changes have been made to the Club to allow us to continue to expand our membership from all sections of the community and to ensure that bowlers can continue to play for as long as possible. This was as a result of  the Club taking the Disability Bowls Advisory Guide 2019 (issued jointly by the Bowls Development Alliance, Disability Bowls England, English Indoor Bowling Association and Coach Bowls) as a framework to  implement changes to improve our Club.

Guide to Accessibility and Facilities

Biddenden Bowls Club is a typical village club run by volunteers. We have a proactive approach to help us ensure we review, upgrade and introduce facilities to make the Club accessible and safe for all.

Car Parking - A large gravel car park (owned by the Parish Council) is close to the green's main entrance (20 metres from the closest parking space).

Blue Badge Parking Facilities - We do not have any reserved Blue Badge Places however we are able to put up temporary barriers/markers when we are running activities at the green when there is a likelihood of blue badge holders being present. So if  you are planning to come along to the green and need a reserved place close to the entrance, please email us via the contact page so that we can make suitable arrangements for you.

Level Access - From the edge of the car park  and all around the green there is level access. Benches are placed at regular intervals around the green.

Access to the Club House - Thanks our members and to Tractorfest for their kind donation, on 30 June 2024 a new gradual slope was officially opened by visiting Captain Jane from the Rochester Blind Bowlers team. This means we can now happily state that we have level accessible access from the car park around the green and up to the Club House.

Alternative Access to the Club House - A second gate can be opened which leads directly along a path onto the club house veranda. However, access to this gate from the car park is along approximately 40 meters of grass.

Access to the Green - The step down to the green from the green boundary is approximately 9" across the ditch and 9" down. Steps with handles are available both at one side of the green and in one corner.  A purpose-built metal ramp is available if needed for wheelchair or sloped access to the green. 

Accessible Toilet - The Club has a unisex accessible toilet. Access is via a wide ramp. There are also separate men’s and ladies toilet facilities.

Club House - We have a simple club house containing a basic kitchen and space for up to 6 tea tables to be set out. In front is a wide veranda overlooking the green. We do not have a licensed bar.

Changing Rooms - These are basic and provide simple changing facilities. The Ladies Changing Room is at the end of the Club House and is accessed via the Club House. The Men’s Changing Room is accessed from the path around the green and is up one step.

Equipment and Aids

The club has a range of equipment for the use of bowlers to help them to participate. This is available for bowlers to use, to try and to borrow. Over the past few seasons one of strongest players made use of the lifter whilst she had a bad back and another of our experienced players used the bowling arm so that he could keep playing even though he had a sore wrist. 

Some of this was purchased in 2019 with the help of an AVIVA Community Grant of £1000 which was used to purchase equipment for junior bowlers as well as some bowling aids. In 2021 we also received a grant of £325 from the Biddenden Village Community Support Fund which was put towards buying small size bowls and an aid.

• Bowls lifter
• Bowling Arm (medium)
• UBI Launcher
• Taylor Ace Junior Bowls - 4 sets - small light weight bowls (2 extra sets purchased 2020 to ensure we had enough to support the junior summer school) 
•  00  and 0 size bowls
• A range of bowls sizes and types for use by new bowlers
• set of 0000 Drakes Pride Professional Bowls - perfect for the younger bowler moving up from junior to full size bowls or those with small hands or perhaps achy fingers!
• Bowls Mate - a light weight height adjustable device with bowl and jack pickups. Designed to help a bowler to balance when delivering the bowl. 
• Different coloured bowls mats (to avoid the more typical black ones where these could disorientate a bowler)

Useful Link

Bush Hill Bowls www.bushhillbowls.co.uk specialise in enabling equipment for bowlers, including the CWG medal-winning Bowls Royce wheelchair. They are the equipment partner of Disability Bowls England and all their products are approved by Bowls England and the EIBA for use on indoor, all-weather and lawn bowling surfaces, thus offering peace of mind to greenkeepers and enhanced sports opportunities to less able members of the community.