- Darren Campbell
Dozens of Warwickshire residents have had the chance to try their hand at pétanque after a local sports club worked with Think Active to secure funding for brand new facilities.
Avon Valley Bowls Club in Upper Lighthorne welcomed members of the local community to a special open day on 22 June to unveil their newly-developed pétanque courts, complete with additional facilities for spectators.
It comes two years after the club first started exploring the possibility of creating a pétanque facility for the village’s rapidly-growing population at its site next to Jaguar Land Rover’s Gaydon centre.
As the sport – which is similar to bowls and offers a great way for people of all ages and abilities to get active – grew in popularity among local residents, club treasurer Dawn Chapman worked with community champion Emma Hills from Trustgreen to explore funding options for improving the club’s facilities.
"Think Active helped us get data and really helped our confidence in applying, and they're continuing to help us now as we go into the next phase"
Emma Hills, Trustgreen
They approached Think Active, who had previously helped fund a Bowls for Health project at Avon Valley Bowls Club, for support in applying for funding from Sport England’s Movement Fund.
Having secured over £5,000 from the Movement Fund alongside additional contributions from the club and Upper Lighthorne Town Council, they were able to invest in a brand new playing surface better aligned with competition play.
They were also able to acquire a storage shed and additional playing equipment, as well as solar lighting for their Monday night sessions and sheltered seating for players and spectators in case of inclement weather, providing fresh opportunities for the community to get physically active all year round.
Gallery: Pétanque Open Evening at Avon Valley Bowls Club
After welcoming Stratford District and Warwickshire County Councillor Chris Mills to cut the ribbon, the club saw the first action on its new courts on Monday evening as members of Avon Valley and other clubs in the region joined local residents to try out the facilities.
Speaking at the official opening, club treasurer Dawn Chapman said: “Many thanks to Sport England, Think Active, Upper Lighthorne Town Council and councillor Chris Mills for helping us through this process.”
Community champion Emma Hills helped introduce new players to pétanque at the event
Community Champion Emma Hills explained how the funding from the Movement Fund would benefit the club beyond just the new facilities and equipment.
“We wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the funding, and the connections and networks that gives us,” said Emma. “This has enabled it to be professional and sustainable, and we can join in with other clubs, get involved in challenges and competitions.
“Think Active helped us get data and really helped our confidence in applying, and they’re continuing to help us now as we go into the next phase.
“We’re bringing together a group of people who want to have fun, some want to progress and some even want to play for England! That’s what we’ve achieved already, and hopefully it’ll continue.”
Among those joining in the launch night was local resident Jeremy Knight, who started playing the sport competitively last year and was recently picked to represent England at the Pétanque Home Nations Championship later this summer.
“From a community perspective, it’s great to have somewhere for entertainment in the evenings where we can get together,” he said.
“It’s all helping to make this a bit of a focal point for the community, and it’s certainly something I’ll be using, if nothing else to practise!”
Funding enabled the club to invest in improved playing courts with sheltered seating for players and spectators
Speaking after cutting the ribbon at the new courts, Councillor Chris Mills said: “This is another addition to what’s been going on here at Upper Lighthorne.
“Watching all these people coming out enjoying themselves on this hot evening is absolutely amazing, and great to see all ages – we’ve seen children which is marvellous, and older people as well. It’s a great facility.”
In addition to new equipment and facilities, Avon Valley also have future plans to run a six-week Pétanque for Health programme, suitable for non-members and beginners to help introduce more people to both sports as a way to get together and keep active.
Could the Movement Fund help you?
- Funding available between £300 to £15,000
- Applications accepted all year round
- Decisions are typically made within 6-8 weeks
- Projects can run for up to 12 months
Sport England’s Movement Fund was launched in 2024 and offers up to £15,000 of funding through grants and crowdfunding pledges, which can be used to cover costs such as coaching, equipment, facilities, or volunteer and staff training.
Applications are open to a wide range of groups and organisations including sports clubs, charities and local authorities, particularly those working with people who face barriers to being physically active.
Avon Valley Bowls Club are just one of the many local clubs and organisations Think Active has helped to access the funding in Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire. Take a look at some of the other recent success stories here.
If you have a project that helps people get more active in your community, you could be eligible for support from the Movement Fund. Discover more about this and other funding opportunities here.
Think Active is a member of the Active Partnerships network, collaborating with local partners throughout Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire to promote the power of sport and physical activity for transforming lives and keeping people living well. Find out more about what we do.
