Leisure link helps Downham residents have a bowl

Forget the World Cup! Residents at a Downham care home have become engrossed in their own sporting action.

Thanks to a new partnership with the sports development unit of Alive Leisure, Downham Grange residents have been using with specially adapted bowls and curling equipment, which they hope will boost health and mobility.

Gail Suiter, who is one of the Clackclose Road home’s two activities co-ordinators, said: “We have been playing target bowls in our activities lounge – and we have all found it really addictive.

“We are going to incorporate the games into our weekly activities programme to help strengthen muscles and improve overall health and mobility. As part of the partnership, our residents will even receive coaching to improve their skills.”

She said their future aim was to organise competitions against other care homes in the area.

“Perhaps we could organise a ‘Care Homes Olympics’ across the Fens along the lines of events that have been organised in other parts of the country,” she said.

Adam Garford, sports development manager for Alive Leisure, the charitable trust which is responsible for managing West Norfolk's leisure centres, said: “We are really keen to promote sport for everyone whatever their age or ability – and our equipment loan facility is part of our strategy.”

In the future, if residents took to the new activities, he would be able to help Downham Grange seek grant funding to acquire its own equipment, he added.