Visually impaired veterans will participate in two bowling matches in Paisley this month as part of a tour to celebrate blind bowling…
The tour has been organised by the charity Scottish War Blinded, whose members are competing against a combination of visually impaired and sighted bowling teams across Scotland throughout the summer season.
Blind bowling is a popular sport amongst Scottish War Blinded’s membership, where participation has proven beneficial in promoting positive health and well-being as well as counteracting isolation and loneliness.
To bowl, visually impaired veterans will use a line down the centre of the rink to provide a point of origin for directors to call out clock based instructions to assist in accuracy.
Sighted bowlers from Abercorn and Willowbank bowling clubs will also use this system during the match as a means to develop an appreciation of the obstacles the visually impaired veterans overcome in order to bowl.
Paisley has special significance as building has begun on a Scottish War Blinded centre on a site at HawkHead Road. The centre will have a bowling green as well as art and woodwork studios, IT suite and gym. It will provide support, rehabilitation and social opportunities for veterans with sight loss, similar to the provision currently available at the Scottish War Blinded Linburn Centre in West Lothian.
Scottish War Blinded member Peter Ramsay, who will represent the charity today during the match, looks forward to a new centre in the West of Scotland. Peter said: “I am delighted that we will soon have a Scottish War Blinded centre for everyone in the West of Scotland. The centre and bowling facilities will provide an opportunity to establish stronger links with the bowling community in Paisley and Renfrewshire.”
Rebecca Barr, Head of Operations and Development for Scottish War Blinded said: “We are delighted to have the opportunity to run blind bowling in Paisley. We are looking forward to opening the Scottish War Blinded Hawkhead Centre, which will have its own bowling green, so blind bowling will be an activity in the area for many years to come.
“We would encourage all veterans in the West of Scotland who are living with sight loss to get in touch and benefit from our free support, which will include attending the Hawkhead Centre when it opens in 2017.”
Scottish War Blinded provides free support to anyone who has served in the armed forces and has sight loss, whether they lost their sight in service or subsequently due to conditions like glaucoma or macular degeneration. To join, call 0800 035 6409 or visitwww.scottishwarblinded.org