Just Bowl is a fun, easy to play form of indoor bowls, which has recently been introduced into our care homes as part of our More...Lifestyle programme. The aim of the game is to skilfully roll the ball onto the highest scoring piece in order to build up points and contribute to the team’s overall result. Our partnership with Just Bowl has been brilliant so far; we have seen the people living with us benefit in so many different ways. It’s a fun way of keeping active and socialising with others (and maybe a little bit of competitiveness too).
Introducing Just Bowl across our homes has created many great opportunities. Inter-home bowling tournaments have been taking place to give the people living with us a chance to meet new people, make friends and get out and about!
Most recently, our second Northern competition was held at Allingham House Care Home, which saw Hope Green, Carmel Lodge, Bowerfield Court, and of course, the hosts Allingham House, battle it out to be crowned the winning team of the day. The scores were close, but Allingham - who named their team, “Crackling Allingham” - just managed to pip the others to the post and became our Just Bowl winners.
Idris, a gentleman living at Hope Green Care Home said, “I’ve really enjoyed meeting all the people… and hopefully we’ll be first next time!”.
It is lovely to see the effects it has on the people who live with us; Evelyn from Allingham House Care Home told us that she “really enjoyed the day and it would be nice to do it again”.
A fun, exciting game of Just Bowl gives the people living with us a boost of confidence whilst they exercise, providing social stimulation as they take the chance to get up and play with their team. Ruth, Lifestyle Co-Ordinator at Hope Green Care Home, also mentioned that “they are not just focusing on the exercise when playing Just Bowl, they are doing calculations of the score which is really good for the mind… [and] watching everyone take part is brilliant.”
We can certainly look forward to the future with Just Bowl, having now rolled it out across all of our homes, offering the people who live with us the opportunity to take part in such an innovative game. In turn, improving the physical, mental, and social wellbeing of those taking part.