Bowls Participation September 2014 Note: This report has been compiled by Sunderland City Council with statistics from the Tyne & Wear Sport regional office.
Bowls Participation Figures The information presented below in Table 1 and Graph 1, is from Sport England s Active People Survey analysis tool and shows the number of people playing bowls for a minimum of 30mins at least once a week. The information has been presented year on year since the survey commenced in 2005 and presents an overview of indoor and outdoor bowls combined. Table 1: Bowls Age: 16+ Sports Participation at least once a week Geography 2005/06 (APS1) 2007/08 (APS2) 2008/09 (APS3) 2009/10 (APS4) 2010/11 (APS5) 2011/12 (APS6) 2012/13 (APS7) England 0.83% 0.86% 0.81% 0.74% 0.58% 0.61% 0.65% North East 0.91% 0.82% 0.83% 0.72% 0.64% 0.74% 0.49% Tyne &Wear 0.92% * * * 0.69% * * Graph 1: Bowls Age: 16+ Sports Participation at least once a week From Table 1 above, the information is represented in graphical format as deatiled below. *There are some gaps within the information and this is due to the absence of data or the sample size not being statistically significant. Sport England Active People Survey data 22 nd May2014 Sport England Active People Survey data APS7 What does Sport England s survey data say? The statistics presented in the table and graph show a decrease in both national and regional participation in bowls since 2005. Whilst there was a spike in participation during 2011/12 for the North East, the trend since 2005 shows a decline in participation to 2013, as shown below. England - 0.83% (2005) to 0.65% (2013) North East - 0.91% (2005) to 0.49% (2013) It should be noted that Sport England s Active People Survey does not produce individual data at a local level for bowls (ie. local authority level) that is statistically significant. This is due to the annual sample size of only 500. The information presented in the annual survey is regarded as statistically significant for sample sizes above 1000. This is why it is
possible to analyse regional participation levels, combining the results of all north east local authorities. The Sunderland population already playing Bowls Sport England have combined all of the data collected for the Active People Survey to show the percentage of Sunderland s catchment who are engaged with bowls, as shown in Chart 1 below. Sport England Active People Survey data Sport England Market Segmentation Sport England has developed 19 sporting segments to help understand the nations attitudes to sport and the market segmentation provides an insight into the sporting population. The market segmentation data builds on the results of Sport England s Active People Survey, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport: Taking Part Survey and the Mosaic tool from Experian. For example, Leanne is a Supportive Single she is the least active segment amongst 18-25 year olds. Sport England knows that she is likely to be single, living in private/council rented accommodation and is very likely to have children. Chart 2 and Table 2 below shows those Sport England segments who are the most engaged in Bowls within Sunderland (outdoor and indoor combined).
Sport England Active People Survey data Table 2: Profile of Residents playing bowls in Sunderland Segment Catchment Pop. Catchment % Ben 7 0.3 Jamie 19 0.8 Chloe 1 0 Leanne 0 0 Helena 7 0.3 Tim 14 0.6 Alison 6 0.3 Jackie 15 0.6 Kev 73 3.1 Paula 6 0.3 Philip 91 3.9 Elaine 56 2.4 Roger & Joy 175 7.4 Brenda 97 4.1 Terry 161 6.8 Norma 93 3.9 Ralph & Phyllis 94 4 Frank 659 27.9 Elsie & Arnold 784 33.2 Total 2358 99.9 Sport England Active People Survey data What are the demographics of bowls participants in Sunderland? From Chart 2, the dominant populations who participate in bowls are Frank (27.9%), Elsie and Arnold (33.2%). (i) Frank (twilight year gent), late 60s retired, married and participates in sport to meet friends and for enjoyment (ii) Elsie & Arnold (retirement home singles), age 66+ retired singles or widowers. Living in sheltered accommodation Other than Frank, and Elsie s & Arnold, those residents who actually participate in bowls are less than 200 people in all other sporting segments. It should be noted that the number of people actually playing indoor bowls maybe less that those shown in Chart 2, as this chart shows participation for both indoor and outdoor bowls. Playing Pitch Plan The Council are in the process of developing a Playing Pitch Plan for the city. The research for this plan has been conducted by consultants Knight, Kavanagh and Page. The Plan in the main relates to outdoor playing pitches and bowls greens, but provides a useful indication of current demand for outdoor bowls. There are 27 clubs using bowling greens in Sunderland. The analysis below summarises information gathered from
consultation with bowls clubs playing in Sunderland in 2013/14 (17 replied, equating to a 63% response rate). The key headlines regarding participation are detailed below. The average playing membership per club is 38. 60% of responding clubs report that senior membership remained static over the previous three years, 33% indicate a decrease in senior membership and only one club indicated an increase in senior membership. All clubs with junior sections report that membership levels have remained static over the previous three years. Only 5 clubs had development plans. All plans are connected to ancillary facilities covering clubhouse, toilets and changing accommodation. No plans related to increasing participation in bowls. The majority of clubs suggest that an additional bowling green at their home green or in the area would not lead to an increase in club membership. Only 3 clubs expressed plans to increase junior membership, although none were able to quantify by how many members. A further 7 clubs also note plans to increase senior members, two of which, have already begun advertising for new members. Mowbray Park BC report that it has decreased by two teams senior in the past three years and Usworth BC state that whilst it has not decreased in teams it has lost significant numbers particularly in the vets age groups. Barley Mow BC also report that due to having to vacate its home green in Barley Mow Park members have gone joined other local clubs. Playing Pitch Plan - Latent demand for bowls Latent demand was assessed by examining the extent to which bowling clubs could run more teams, if more and/or better facilities were available at the venue or in the locality. The results showed very little evidence of latent demand for bowls in Sunderland. Roker Marine BC and Usworth BC both reported that they would have more teams if ancillary facilities were improved at their respective home grounds and Ryhope BC indicate that if it had access to more greens and better changing facilities it could increase the number of teams. However, none of the three clubs could quantify these statements. Sport England Design Guidance Sport England (Indoor Bowls Design Guidance Notes) proposes the following guidelines on catchment for indoor bowls centres, but provides a caveat that this guidance must be interpreted in the light of local circumstances: a) Assume the majority of users will live locally and not travel more than 20 minutes In Sunderland: A 20min drive time has been assessed for the bowls facility at Houghton and this can be seen in Appendix 1. The maps show that all of the city s resident population can access Houghton within a 20min car journey (within normal road conditions). b) Assume 90% of users will travel by car, with the remainder by foot. In Sunderland: 90% of Sunderland residents who use a car can access Houghton within a 20min drive time. c) A six-rink green, therefore, is required for a population of 85,000-100,000. However, the actual figure will depend on the population profile of each area. In Sunderland: As detailed previously within this report, the profiles of users in Sunderland who predominantly play bowls are Frank (late 60s) and Elsie and Arnold (66+). In addition, the numbers of residents who are over the age of 55 in Sunderland is currently 51,100 (Appendix 2).
From the Playing Pitch Plan consultation, the current static and decreasing participation levels suggest that a six rink facility at Houghton is sufficient to meet demand, in addition to the aging demographics of the sport ie. Frank and Elsie & Arnold are the dominant population who are playing bowls. The level of current provision (at Houghton) is also consistent with the reducing levels of participation. In addition, there was no evidence to suggest that the majority of outdoor clubs are encouraging participation in the sport. d) As a guide, demand is calculated as one rink per 14,000-17,000 of total population In Sunderland: as above e) The number of rinks required can be related to the estimated number of members: assume 80-100 members per rink In Sunderland: The Houghton facility has 6 rinks which according to Sport England guidance can accommodate between 480 600 members. The current 468 membership of Houghton suggests there is spare capacity and is actually below the Sport England recommended levels (up to 600). In addition, the Houghton club reported that over 100 new members joined the club in 2013 who were previously Crowtree members. An analysis has been undertaken of weekday and weekend time slots at Houghton (from September 2013 to April 2014) and this has confirmed that capacity is available. As would be expected on weekdays, the most popular time s are 10.30-16.30, with limited capacity (although some is evident), however spare capacity is available from 16.30 onwards. On weekends, capacity is available throughout the bowls hall opening times from 10.00-18.00.
Appendix 1 (mapping providing by Sunderland City Council s ICT section)
Appendix 2 Sunderland and Tyne & Wear s Population Sport England s Market Segmentation shows that the people most interested in Bowls are city residents over the age of 55 (Frank and Elsie & Arnold). Table 2 below (from Protecting Older People Population Information - 2012) shows the North East and in Sunderland population totals. There are currently 51,000 Sunderland residents over the age of 55. The population of over 55 s is due to increase slightly over the next two years. Age Range Population Figures in the North East Population Figures in Sunderland 2014 2015 2016 2014 2015 2016 People aged 55-64 326,700 329,500 333,900 35,500 35,800 36,100 People aged 65-69 155,100 157,600 158,800 16,300 16,500 16,800 People aged 70-74 111,500 114,800 119,800 11,500 11,800 12,200 People aged 75-79 95,300 95,800 95,200 10,100 10,200 10,000 People aged 80-84 68,700 69,900 70,500 7,400 7,400 7,400 People aged 85-89 39,900 41,200 42,700 3,900 4,100 4,300 People aged 90 or over 21,700 22,800 23,900 1,900 2,000 2,100 Total Population 65 and over 492, 200 502,100 510,900 51,100 52,000 52,800