MEMBERS at Yoker Bowling Club were bowled over recently by securing four grants to enhance their ever improving club.

They were awarded three grants totalling £10,745 towards their ‘On the Green & Going Green’ Project and £1,400 towards their ‘Food for Thought’ Project.

Having struggled financially in recent years their main objective was to look at ways to reduce overhead costs, such as gas, electricity and water usage.

Having little savings, it was impossible to self-fund these large projects so they sought funding partners where they met the criteria.

In partnership with Resource Efficient Scotland they produced a report showing where they could reduce their carbon footprint and identified the need for new windows, doors, LED lights, light sensors and water management systems.

They applied to three funders; The Weir Charitable Trust (£2,596), Glasgow City Council (Area Partnership) (£1,900) and The Big Lottery (£6,249). All funding partners accepted that the project was one they could all support. It would benefit the members, the local community and primarily reduce the clubs carbon footprint. On-going it would expect to save the club around £2,000 per year in overheads.

In a fourth grant application, the club were successful in securing £1,400 from the Glasgow City Council Area Partnership Community Budgeting Pilot. This will fully fund a new kitchen within the club as part of their ‘Food for Thought’ project in preparation for a lunch club expected to start in the autumn.

Club Treasurer, Gary Earl said: "This is a dream come true for Yoker Bowling Club. To get one grant claim success is excellent but when you have four major funders buying into your projects it makes all the time spent on the applications worthwhile."

President Robert Steele accepted the cheque on behalf of the club from Gary at their recent Open 4’s tournament with fellow bowlers and friends joining in the celebration.