We are very sad to announce that Steve Clamp, a key Partner in Bowls Buddies, has passed away at the too young age of 52 after a relatively short battle against cancer. Steve was one of the two founders of Bowls Buddies and a key driving force behind its success since its foundation in July 2022. His passion for developing bowls was unmatched and demonstrated by his coaching and development officer roles, as well as serving on the Board of the British Crown Green Bowling Association. Most of all he was just a lovely man who could not do enough to help people. All of us at Bowls Buddies are devastated by the loss of Steve.
Steve’s wife, Julie, and Ian & Sarah Gill will be continuing the business and there should be little change from a customer perspective, but please bear with us at this difficult time. We are determined to continue to grow and develop the business in Steve’s memory, as he would have wanted. It is hoped that we will also be bringing new partners on board to assist with the day to day running of Bowls Buddies.
We have received more great feedback from Steve Stratfull, Secretary Tamworth Castle Bowling Club. ( see below). They are clearly doing a wonderful job running a ‘Memory Cafe’ and doing bowls activities for people with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Well done to all at Tamworth Castle BC, you are a true inspiration to the bowling community.
“I am from Tamworth Castle Bowling Club in Staffordshire, it was good to see that bowls buddies are being used by Richmond Park Bowls Club in such a good way, so I thought I would let you know about how we use our Bowls Buddies.
As well as use them for children, we also, a couple of times each year, have a group called the ‘Memory Cafe’ come to our club for a morning or afternoon session.
The ‘Memory Cafe’ is a group of people who are living with dementia or Alzheimer’s who together with their carers enjoy getting outside, and getting involved in something special while at the same time having exercise, not just physical, but mentally too.
We purchased the Bowls Buddies specifically for these events to ensure ease of use and safety. If one of the group accidently stands on a Bowls Buddy Bowl, it just folds beneath their feet, yet with a normal ‘wood’, they stand the chance of falling and causing possible injury.
Bowls Buddies are great, and the Memory Cafe organisers have even asked us if they can borrow some so that they can play indoors during the winter months at their usual club location.
Bowls is a sport for all, and Bowls Buddies helps to make that ‘ALL’ Thank you.”
We have received a lovely message from Peter Webber of Richmond Park Bowls Club, Bournemouth. They have found our equipment fantastic for working with adults who have learning difficulties. Peter’s kind comments are set out below.
We have been working with a local SEND school and Gateway club (adults with learning difficulties) using the bowls buddies bowls and target wedge. This has been a game changer, everyone taking part enjoyed the experience, lots of fun and laughter. Using bowls buddies has help the bowling club engage with members of the community who may not have been able to play bowls. This is a great bit of kit well done to everyone.”
We have just received a lovely letter from a lady in Scotland, telling us how much her granddaughter enjoyed playing with our bowls. It is wonderful to hear that our bowls are so good for children who have additional needs. We also know that they are also brilliant for adults with additional needs too, and are used up in Lerwick with disabled groups. The letter is reproduced below:
Dear Bowl Buddies,
I just wanted to write to let you know how impressed I am with your Bowl Buddies bowls and to thank you for creating such an innovative product.
My granddaughter recently had the opportunity to use a set during an open day at our local bowling club.
Watching her play was genuinely inspiring.
As a child with additional needs, many sports can be difficult to access, but your bowls immediately removed one of the biggest barriers. Knowing that they can be delivered in different ways without damaging the bowling green meant she could simply enjoy taking part, rather than worrying about whether she was doing it “correctly.”
I was so impressed that I have since bought a set myself so that she can continue learning with her papa.
To me, the benefits go far beyond learning how to bowl. Being outdoors in the fresh air, learning concentration, developing coordination, understanding sportsmanship, taking turns, respecting others and building confidence are life skills that every child deserves the opportunity to develop.
What I particularly love about Bowl Buddies is that they help create a truly inclusive environment. Toddlers, young children, people with disabilities and those who may struggle with the traditional delivery can all take part alongside everyone else.
For a while, everyone is simply enjoying the same game together, and that’s something quite special.
I genuinely believe products like yours can help bowling clubs introduce a new generation to our sport while making it accessible to people who may otherwise never have had the opportunity to play.
Thank you for your vision, your innovation and for producing something that opens doors for so many people. I hope more clubs across the country discover Bowl Buddies because I have already seen first-hand the joy they can bring.
Truro City Bowling Club have started their Sport England Grant Funded project, by engaging with local community groups. They are already working with the local Veterans Group, inside at Penryn Cricket Club Clubhouse, and outside at Culdrose Community Centre, Helston. They have had a morning of bowling, which was great fun and enjoyed by all.
Stephen Barrett from, the Club commented that, “It was a great kit purchased from Bowls Buddies, which was very versatile to take bowls into community Centres and halls. The Club is looking forward to further projects, including engaging with two local care homes, and a High School for Girls, with more community projects in discussion.”
It is fantastic to see the great work that Truro City Bowling Club is doing, and how they are using the equipment in such a versatile and imaginative way to encourage new people into bowls.
Congratulations to Crawford Park Bowls Club, based in Monkseaton, North Tyneside, who have won a national Club of the Year award. Using our Bowls Buddies equipment their family fun day attracted over 120 children. They have also fundraised to improve disabled facilities and they are an integral part of their local community.
Well done to all at the club and keep up the good work!
There was a great article in this week’s Sunday Express about the great strides being made to get schoolchildren playing bowls – and there was mention of our partnership with the Bowls Development Alliance in helping to promote bowls to schools. The article is reproduced below.
CHILDREN are playing lawn bowls at school following a drive to attract younger recruits to a sport more often associated with older players.
The link-up between the Youth Sport Trust and the Bowls Development Alliance has seen nearly 3,000 pupils play the game after teachers were shown how to use their existing PE equipment in place of traditional lawn bowls kit.
Jon Hart, of the Bowls Development Alliance, said: “We have developed a set of Bowls Game Cards for primary and secondary schools. These allow teachers to deliver bowls-style activity using existing equipment such as tennis balls, bean bags and cones, removing barriers around cost and access, making it easy to get started.”
The sport has also pushed a “Bowls Bash” format in schools which acts as a quicker, high scoring one-hour version of a standard three-hour game.
Mr Hart said: “It is a quicker, more dynamic version of the sport, with varied scoring and a format that can be delivered within a one-hour session, making it well suited to the school environment.”
Now a partnership has been agreed with Bowls Buddies to bring soft bowls equipment to schools which allows them to move from general PE kit to a more accurate version of the game. Mr Hart said: “The bowls replicate the behaviour of traditional bowls but can be safely used on hard indoor surfaces such as school halls and leisure centres, as well as at clubs.”
The national push across all formats of the game is already being mirrored on the ground. Beacon Academy, in the West Midlands, became the first school in the country to set up its own bowling green in 2023, with the Beacon Bowling Club. More than 500 of its pupils have since used the facility, along with children from other schools across the Lighthouse Multi Academy Trust. The club is now affiliated with the British Crown Green Bowling Association and has registered a team to compete in a local league against clubs across the region.
Edward, who is in Year 6, said: “I absolutely love it.” Fellow pupil Roman, also in Year 6, added: “I now play crown green bowls and I am a registered player.” Jay Holdcroft, the Lighthouse Trust subject expert for PE, said: “We are extremely proud of how the scheme has developed. Beacon Bowling Club stands as a shining example of how the sport’s school drive is not only boosting participation numbers nationally but also bringing together schools, families and the wider community.”
We’re thrilled to be able to share the news of our new strategic partnership with the Bowls Development Alliance.
Together, we’re bringing bowls into schools across England, creating fun, inclusive, and engaging opportunities for thousands of young people to try our sport. 🏆✨
This collaboration will provide schools with innovative equipment, activity kits, and resources to inspire the next generation of bowlers, all while supporting confidence, wellbeing, and a love for physical activity.
Read the full press release on the link here (also reproduced below) 👉
Bowls Development Alliance and Bowls Buddies LLP Announce Strategic Partnership to Inspire the Next Generation of Young Bowlers
The Bowls Development Alliance (BDA) is delighted to announce a new partnership with Bowls Buddies LLP, bringing together shared ambitions to grow the sport of bowls in schools across England. This collaboration will support and enhance delivery within the Youth Sport Trust (YST) framework and the School Games network, enabling thousands of young people to experience bowls in a fun, accessible, and engaging way.
Research from the Youth Sport Trust shows that 71% of young people want to be more active at school, yet only 36% currently take part in sport or physical activity beyond PE on three or more days per week, highlighting the need for more inclusive and accessible opportunities. Enjoyment-led activities such as bowls can help engage pupils who are less attracted to traditional competitive sports, supporting confidence, wellbeing and a stronger sense of belonging.
The partnership unites the leadership and development expertise of the BDA with the creativity and innovation of Bowls Buddies LLP. Together, the aim is to create a sustainable pathway that introduces bowls to children at an early age while supporting schools, teachers, and School Games Organisers with high-quality resources and guidance.
Bowls Buddies’ revolutionary equipment and activity kits, already used by more than 500 clubs, schools, and community groups worldwide, will form a key part of the offer. Their specially designed, lightweight, and colourful products make bowls instantly accessible to young people, encouraging participation, skill development, and confidence in a safe environment.
Lisa Graham, Managing Director of the BDA, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Bowls Buddies. Their innovative approach perfectly complements our vision for broadening the reach of bowls within schools. This collaboration will significantly strengthen our ability to inspire more children to discover our sport and enjoy all the physical, social and wellbeing benefits it provides.”
Steve Clamp, Co-Founder of Bowls Buddies LLP, added: “This partnership represents a fantastic opportunity to take bowls to the heart of school sport. Working with the BDA, the Youth Sport Trust and School Games Organisers, we look forward to giving even more young people the chance to try bowls in a way that is fun, inclusive and easy for teachers to deliver.”
Ian Gill, Co-Founder of Bowls Buddies LLP, also commented: “When we set out with the Bowls Buddies concept, our aim was to introduce our products to schools across the country. Through this exciting partnership, that ambition has become a reality. When children try bowls for the first time, they love the sport and the challenges it provides, and we are excited to see how this can help build a new generation of players.”
Through coordinated programmes, shared expertise, and a commitment to innovation, the partnership will provide schools with a high-quality offer that aligns with national school sport priorities. Both the Bowls Development Alliance and Bowls Buddies LLP believe this collaboration marks an exciting step forward for the sport and for the development of future generations of bowlers.
For media enquiries, please contact: Bowls Development Alliance – Schooldevelopment@bowlsdevelopmentalliance.com Bowls Buddies LLP – Bowlsbuddies@gmail.com
Bowls Buddies feature on the latest episode of the leading bowls ‘Wrong Bias’ podcast, with Ian & Steve being interviewed by the wonderful double act of David Bolt and Ritchie Mckie. Listen in to hear all about Bowls Buddies and our views on junior bowls. Also hear the best ways to get young people into bowls at your club and how you can work with local schools. The podcast can be listened to on most platforms including YouTube.
Bowls Buddies have now become VAT registered and, as a result, we have had to alter our pricing. However, we have tried to keep our prices as low as possible to provide you with the best possible value for money.
The website has now been updated with our new prices, which are all shown including VAT.
In addition, we have now launched 4 new ‘School Kits’ to provide a greater variety of options for our customers, so why not have a browse and see what we have got to offer?
