Sporting Assets worked with Whitefield Bowling Club (WBC) as part of the Community Ownership Fund (COF) to help secure investment to save the clubhouse which was suffering from subsidence.

WBC run an extensive bowls programme which includes supporting beginners to take up the sport with free Saturday sessions and a school’s programme, through to offering a centre of excellence. However, WBC is far more than a bowls club, offering 18 free allotment plots and by allowing community groups to book the clubhouse for free, helping to make WBC a vital community hub.

Having failed in an earlier bid to COF, Sporting Assets were commissioned to support WBC with a new application.

Our support included:

• conducting a needs and strategic analysis of the local area
• support to review the wider community offer and the impact it brings
• developing a business plan, cashflow and 5-year forecast; and
• identifying potential sources of partnership funding

Our support helped WBC to secure a total grant award from COF of £259k. The funding will go towards rebuilding the subsidence damaged clubhouse, and making the building more energy efficient, which includes new solar panels and improved insulation. It will also pay for a project manager to oversee the capital works.