The promotion of community participation in healthy recreation for the benefit of the inhabitants of York and the surrounding area by the provision of facilities for the playing of the amateur sport of outdoor bowls, and for recreation or other leisure time activities.
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Our Green was opened in 1914, and was originally used by Holgate Bowls Club.
Nearby to the green was a large Railway Carriage and Wagon works, and teams from both were set up in the 1930's - both playing at other greens in York.
Both moved to our green in 1942 after Holgate moved to another nearby green.
Because of other sports and social activities connected with the railway at other nearby locations, in the 1960's the 2 bowls clubs became part of York Railway Institute, and through that became sections of The York Railway Institute Bowls Club.
In 2016 this organisation became a Charity (York RI CIO) and our club became a section of that.
In 2022, we split from this CIO, and became a Charity in our own right, i.e. York Railway Bowls & Social Club and have run our own affairs since then.
The Club operates and maintains a 6 rink bowling green, clubhouse, associated grounds and car parking for the benefit of its members, the wider bowling community (including visiting Clubs, Bowls England and Yorkshire competitions) and the local community at large. The Club has also advertised and provided coaching sessions for those interested in knowing more about bowling.
The Club promotes its non-bowling facilities in order to maximise its income base to improve its financial security. Local businesses and community groups are encouraged to use the facilities for meetings/training sessions and experience the sport of outdoor bowling if they wish.
During the last 3 seasons, as well as use by members, the green was also used to host friendlies, Bowls England national competitions and Yorkshire Bowling Association competitions.
In addition, the green was hired by outside organisations on 4 occasions, and we ran our annual Open Triples competition, attracting 24 entries.
The green was also made available to local schools (OLQM, Poppleton Road and The Mount) and local organisations helping youngsters who struggle in mainstream education and provide activities for such youngsters. (Ad Astra and Evolve sports). Coaching/taster sessions were run for non-members on most Saturdays mornings and other times which resulted in new members joining and was also used by Visually Impaired Bowls England to host their National Triples
Our facilities were appreciated by many of our visitors, with comments such as “I wanted to thank you all for making our students feel so welcome and engaging them in the sport so well. They really enjoyed taking part and the staff you had for each group were very helpful”.
“Would like to say a massive thank you for Friday at the bowls club! Thoroughly enjoyed it and the students got a lot out of it and really enjoyed it”.
“Just a quick note to thank you and your colleagues for such an enjoyable evening. Every one of the 19 players said how much they had enjoyed the bowls. They also commented on how helpful & friendly you and your colleagues were. A credit to your club. A memorable event for our tennis club!” “Just a thank you to your club and all the helpers on the day, thank you for my lunch it was excellent and the Green played well, and I haven’t had any comments other than good on the venue. “ “I would just like to say a big thank-you to you and your club for hosting our team last week. We had a marvellous tour in York and that's largely due to friendly way that we were received at each of the clubs that we had the pleasure of visiting.
Please pass on our sincere thanks to the rest of your members. I hope that we have the opportunity to visit you again before too long.”
Our club has recently enjoyed success in local leagues and County/Bowls England Competitions e.g. Ladies Fours, Men's Triples and Singles and the quarter finals of a National Mixed Fours competition.