Bowls Development Alliance (BDA)

Club Support

At the Bowls Development Alliance, club development is at the heart of everything we do. We’re here to support bowls clubs and their volunteers to grow, thrive and build long-term sustainability.

Our dedicated Club and Community Development Officers work closely with clubs to:

• Attract new members
• Retain existing members
• Increase community engagement opportunities
• Strengthen long-term sustainability

As an ESMBA-affiliated club, you’ll also have free access to a wide range of tools and resources, including:

• The Club Health Checker
• Weeks of Learning webinars
• Online Education Platform
• Safeguarding and volunteer resources

If you’d like to find out more about how the BDA can support your club, please contact your local Club and Community Development Officer (details below).

David Bolt
Club Development Team Leader
E: DavidBolt@bowlsdevelopmentalliance.com
T: 07826 929558
David has been with the BDA since June 2019. He manages the Club Development Team and also supports clubs across the North East: Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, Cumbria, Durham, North & East Yorkshire.

Paul Bryson
Club and Community Development Officer
E: PaulBryson@bowlsdevelopmentalliance.com
T: 07379 338884
Paul joined the BDA in April 2025 and works with clubs in the North West, mainly supporting British Crown Green clubs. He covers: Lancashire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Staffordshire & Shropshire.

Victoria Evans
Club and Community Development Officer
E: VictoriaEvans@bowlsdevelopmentalliance.com
ET 07384 686292
Vicki has been with the BDA since November 2021 and supports clubs across the Midlands: Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, West Midlands, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire & Oxfordshire.

Annie Dunham
Club and Community Development Officer
E: AnnieDunham@bowlsdevelopmentalliance.com
T: 07502 414613
Annie joined the BDA in June 2019. She supports clubs in the East of England and oversees the Weeks of Learning programme. Her counties include: Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Rutland, Cambridgeshire & Bedfordshire.

Harry Urwin
Club and Community Development Officer
E: HarryUrwin@bowlsdevelopmentalliance.com
T: 07476 765778
Harry joined the BDA in April 2023 and supports clubs in the South East: Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, London, Berkshire, Surrey, Kent, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, West & East Sussex.

Mollie Cousins
Club and Community Development Officer
E: MollyCousins@bowlsdevelopmentalliance.com
T: 07557 819569
Mollie has been with the BDA since July 2025 and supports clubs in the South West: Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Bristol, Somerset, Dorset, Devon & Cornwall.

General Contact:
T: Office: 01664 777001
Facebook – www.Facebook.com/BowlsDevelopmentAlliance
X – www.X.com/BowlsDA
Instagram – www.Instagram.com/BowlsDevelopmentAlliance
LinkedIn – www.LinkedIn.com/company/Bowls-Development-Alliance

Club Health Checker

The Club Health Checker is a free online tool for all ESMBA-affiliated clubs. It helps clubs celebrate what they’re doing well, identify challenges, and plan for future development.

• Takes around 30 minutes to complete
• Generates a tailored report with resources and guidance
• Supports development across key areas of club growth
• Can be revisited annually to track progress

Access the Club Health Checker here

Education

Our Education Platform offers free, on-demand support for clubs and volunteers, including:

• Quick guides and short courses
• Topics such as Safeguarding, Marketing, and Committee roles
• Resources accessible anytime, anywhere

We also run Weeks of Learning four times a year. These free webinars cover a wide range of topics, delivered by our Development Team and expert partners (including Buddle, Sport England).

Find the latest webinars and resources here