The Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT) has awarded £1,976 to Kinglassie Miners Welfare and Bowling Club to fund new equipment for junior members so they can continue community engagement and activity.

The club provides social and recreational facilities for its members, including line dancing, bingo, keep fit classes and indoor games tournaments, as well as bowling run by a voluntary committee.

In a bid to appeal to more junior members, the bowling club is keen to expand its operations in collaboration with local primary schools. Through this local initiative the club plans to host ‘come and play’ sessions to encourage children to try out the sport. This can be played outdoors with minimal close interaction and COVID-19 transmission risk.

The award from CRT will provide junior bowling equipment and accredited training sessions for coaches from Bowls Scotland.

Nicky Wilson, CRT chair in Scotland said: “We’re always looking for new and exciting local community initiatives to support. This latest funding announcement with Kinglassie Miners Welfare will hopefully introduce more children to a sport they may have never previously considered.

“We look forward to working closely with Bowls Scotland and local schools to bring fresh thinking to the sport.”

Gordon Pirie, from Kinglassie Bowling Club, said: “We’re very appreciative of the support given from the trust. It will enable us to develop our junior membership as we believe the future of bowling is through junior bowlers.

“Bowling may often be viewed as an old person sport, but the skills young people develop through playing bowls are transferable to a number of different aspects in their life. We hope to continue to develop athletes through this programme with a positive impact on the local community.”

This is one of many projects CRT has funded after recently announcing the Community Investment Programme, which offers up to £3,000 to charitable and not-for-profit community groups.