Guidance and information for Members

"Joined the club last year, thinking that no way was bowls for me, how wrong could I be.  I love everything about it.  The club members are super friendly, the atmosphere is very relaxed and I can’t wait until April when the season begins"  Sue J March 2020.

Bowls is a sport for everyone and helps bowlers get active and stay active. No one should be put off taking up bowling and joining us at Biddenden due to any preconceptions about the sport of Bowls or fears that they will not be made welcome. The information on this page, in the other membership pages and throughout this website will hopefully let you see that bowls is for everyone. BUT the best thing to do is to come along and experience it for yourself. 

Work Crew and Cleaning (please also see the volunteer information page)

Over the week activities to maintain the green and surrounds are undertaken by  volunteers (more always welcome). During set times the green is not open for bowling to allow the volunteers to work safely and get on with the required tasks. Daily brushing takes place at any time up to 10.00am and the green is closed until that time. Mowing and cleaning are undertaken 3 times a week and on the designated days the green will not be open for bowling until 1pm. Other work crew activities will normally take place on the mowing/cleaning mornings. 

 

 NO ONE should miss out on playing bowls because of the costs of playing/participation.

The club has a number of arrangements in place to ensure that no one misses out on playing due to financial pressures or the costs of participation. 

Biddenden Bowls Club wants to ensure that all those who wish to join and play in rollups, matches and competitions can do so. Every effort is made to keep subscriptions and fees as low as possible however it is acknowledged that for some the payments could cause financial hardship or challenge. The Committee does not want anyone to make the decision not to join or enter competitions/matches for this reason. Please if this applies to you speak in complete confidentiality to Treasurer, Kim or Membership Secretary, Linda, so that an arrangement can be made to reduce or waive fees. They  have discretion to agree and no one outside these 2 will be aware.  Please do not be embarrassed to come forward (we have all had challenging times!) We want people to play!!

 

Donations

Biddenden Bowls Club is registered as a  Charities and Community Amateur Sports Club (HMRC Charities Reference CH2592). This requires the club to meet a number of standards and conditions and in turn entitles the club to a number of benefits.  One of these is that when donations are received the club is entitled to claim back gift aid subject to the gift aid conditions. 

In 2020 a number of members made donations when they did not claim back county competition entry fees which were refunded to the club by KCBA.  A few members have intimated that they intend to make a donation in 2021. As the club is registered with CASC we are able to claim gift aid of 25%.  If you wish to make a donation and would like the club to claim gift aid please email Kim, club treasurer, on biddendenbowlsclub@gmail.com so that the necessary declaration form can be sent to you. The committee wishes to be very clear however that whilst donations will be welcome to help offset the loss of income and our major fundraisers in 2020/21, there is no expectation of donations and that no member should feel under any pressure to donate.