A BOWLING club is leading the way with a groundbreaking new initiative to give adults with additional support needs more opportunities to play sport.
Gourock Park Bowing Club is one of the first in Inverclyde to set up the Sports For All initiative.
As a key part of the Gourock Community Sports Hub, it is working with care providers including the Fitzgerald Centre, Key Housing and Richmond Fellowship to offer a range of opportunities.
This summer volunteers at the bowling club are running sessions in bowls, boccia, putting and crazy golf.
Gourock Park Bowling Club's Lorna McCartney said: "This is something that is very close to our hearts. It is often difficult for people with additional support needs to play.
"We want to make our club inclusive to everyone and as part of the Gourock Community Sports Hub we are making it happen.
"We have had a fantastic response so far from care providers.
"This is a great way to encourage more people to take part in sport."
Through the community sports hub they have purchased inclusive equipment including a bowling wheelchair and other aids.
At a recent open day the committee gave representatives from Inverclyde health and social care partnership and other care providers the chance to see for themselves the facilities on offer.
Lyndsey Shaw, of the Fitzgerald Centre, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity and opens up the kind of support we can provide to our service users."
Both Key Housing and Richmond Fellowship support workers have welcomed the development.
Callum Harrison, of the community sports hub in Gourock, said: "We wanted to offer an inclusive sports session to the community through working in partnership with the agencies that support adults with additional support needs.
"The aim of Community Sports Hubs is to connect with sporting and non-sporting organisations to help improve the health and wellbeing of the local community."
The inclusive sessions take place Monday to Friday from 10am to noon from now until September at the club, just off Larkfield Road.
There are indoor and outdoor boccia sessions, as well as crazy golf, bowling and putting.
Lorna added: "I would like to say a huge thanks to our volunteers and to Callum from the Gourock Community Sports Hub for making this happen."
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