Olympic Legacy Fund has provided £1,880 of match funding
CAIBC Bowling Green Repairs and Maintenance
Ballyclare, Antrim and Newtownabbey, United Kingdom
Aim
Restore our 12-rink indoor bowling greens through professional cleaning, seam repairs, and stretching for faster, truer play.
Who are we?
County Antrim Indoor Bowling Club has been serving bowlers across Northern Ireland for 40 years, providing a welcoming home for players of all ages and abilities. Our club boasts two 6-rink greens (12 rinks total) where members enjoy year-round indoor bowling regardless of weather conditions.
With over 200 active members ranging from beginners to county-level competitors, we're proud to be a cornerstone of the Northern Ireland bowling community. Our club regularly hosts league matches, tournaments, and social events that bring together bowlers from across the region. We also run coaching sessions for newcomers and provide opportunities for young people to discover the sport of indoor bowls.
Why are we crowdfunding?
After years of dedicated use, our greens are showing signs of wear that affect the quality of play we can offer. Water stains have accumulated on the surface, dulling the appearance and potentially impacting bowl performance. Several seams have begun to part, creating uneven areas that disrupt the true running line bowlers depend on. Additionally, sections of both greens require professional stretching to restore proper tension and ensure the quick, consistent pace that makes indoor bowls enjoyable for all skill levels.
Olympic Legacy Fund Partnership: We're applying to Sport NI's Olympic Legacy Fund, which will match our community fundraising. If we can raise £1012 (35%) through crowdfunding, Sport NI will contribute £1,880 (65%), giving us the full £2,892 needed to restore our greens to world-class standard. Any extra funds raised will go towards Crowdfunder transaction fees (2.4% + 20p per donation).
Olympic Legacy Fund Eligibility: Our project qualifies under "Sports surface enhancement works" as defined in the fund criteria. This essential maintenance will modernise our facility and encourage greater participation in indoor bowls - a sport recognised by Sport NI that promotes physical activity and social engagement across all age groups.
The current condition impacts our ability to host competitive matches and may deter new members from joining. Without this restoration work, the deterioration will continue, potentially requiring more extensive and expensive repairs in the future.
How we'll spend the money raised
We've obtained quotes from professional green maintenance specialists for comprehensive restoration work. Here's how your contributions will be invested:
Professional Green Maintenance Package: £2892
- Deep shampoo cleaning of all 12 rinks:
- Removes water stains and embedded dirt
- Restores surface clarity and appearance
- Professional stretching and re-tensioning:
- Restores proper green tension
- Guarantees quick, true pace for optimal play
- Seam repair work across both greens:
- Professional re-seaming of parted areas
- Ensures smooth, consistent surface
This investment will restore our greens to the world-renowned standard we pride ourselves on, ensuring they serve our community for many years to come. All work will be carried out by certified professionals with extensive experience in indoor bowls green maintenance.
Community impact
Our restored greens will create a lasting legacy that extends far beyond our membership. The improvements will enable us to:
Attract New Players: High-quality greens encourage newcomers to try indoor bowls, helping grow participation in this accessible sport that people can enjoy well into their retirement years.
Host International Events: World-class greens will allow us to bid for international competitions, bringing visitors and economic activity to our local area.
Intergenerational Connections: Indoor bowls naturally brings together people of different ages and backgrounds. Our improved facility will strengthen these community bonds and combat social isolation.
Year-Round Activity: Unlike outdoor bowling, our indoor facility provides consistent sporting opportunities regardless of weather, supporting community health and wellbeing throughout the year.
Disability Access: Indoor bowls is particularly inclusive for people with mobility challenges. Our enhanced greens will provide better conditions for adaptive bowling equipment and wheelchair users.
The project directly supports the Olympic Legacy Fund's mission to improve community sports facilities and encourage greater participation in physical activity, creating benefits that will last for decades.
How you can play your part
There are four simple ways to help us reach our target and make this project a reality:
1. Make a pledge
Don't delay if you're going to support us because momentum is key to our success! Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us closer to restoring our greens to championship standard.
2. Spread the word
Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! Tag friends who might be interested in supporting local sport, especially if they have connections to bowling or community activities. The more people we reach, the more support we will get.
3. Offer rewards
Get involved if you are a local business by donating things we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out! We're looking for rewards at various price points - from £5 coffee vouchers to £100 meal experiences. This is great publicity for local businesses while helping us reach our crowdfunding target.
4. Fundraise for us
If you want to run your own fundraiser – maybe a sponsored bowl-a-thon, quiz night, or similar – use the 'contact project' button at the top of our page to let us know. Setting up your own page only takes a few minutes and you won't need any bank details. Just a fun idea and enthusiasm to help!
Join us in preserving this vital community resource and ensuring indoor bowls continues to thrive across Northern Ireland for generations to come.
This project successfully funded on 8th January 2026