DURSLEY Bowls Club has been awarded nearly £3,000 by Sport England in what has been described as a ‘lifeline’ for the club.

A sum of £2,916 of National Lottery Funding via Sport England’s Community Emergency Fund has gone towards the club’s ongoing running costs during lockdown, and green improvement project.

The club has now implemented the green refurbishment project, which included the replacement of two side walls which were rapidly deteriorating.

“This funding from Sports England is a lifeline to our club, and without this money the club’s financial position would have been severely impacted,” said Gill Meadows, Dursley’s secretary and club coach.

“All the plans we had made to bring in additional revenue and fundraising this season to then enable us to replace the two long sides of our green retaining walls had all been lost.

“We would have been facing a massive problem at our facility had we not been successful in securing this grant; the members and the community can’t thank Sport England enough.”

Tim Hollingsworth, Sport England’s chief executive, said: “We are proud to be able to provide vital funding to Dursley Bowls Club to help it through these extremely challenging times.”

Chris Roberts, Neil Carter and Daniel Barnett from local company CT Roberts carried out the work and members are now back bowling at the club.

Gill said: “The building work took a week to complete and our members are now able to enjoy our improved facility”

“To say the club is over the moon with the two new retaining walls is an understatement.”