Getting Ahead of the Season

The bowls season rarely starts with the first jack of the year. It starts three or four Saturdays earlier, when somebody unlocks the clubhouse, spots the cobwebs in the corner of the ceiling and thinks, "Right then, that wants doing before we've got visitors." That instinct is worth acting on. Once the warmer weather arrives, so do the visiting teams, the taster sessions, the open days and the families wandering past the green wondering what happens inside. The clubhouse is the first thing they see, and whether it feels cared for tells them a great deal about the club before a single bowl is rolled.

So this is a straightforward call for volunteers. We need help to clean, paint, repair and organise the clubhouse before the season gets busy. Plenty of jobs need no skill at all beyond a willingness to turn up, and light refreshments will be provided for everyone who lends a hand.

Pick a Date and Get the Word Out

Two or three Saturday mornings usually work better than one long day. Aim for nine until one, which leaves the afternoon free and stops people flagging by midday. Put a sign-up sheet on the noticeboard with a clear list of jobs beside it, and share it in whatever group chat the club already uses. People are far more likely to commit if they can see exactly what they are volunteering for.

It also helps to ask for particular skills rather than general enthusiasm. Somebody with a head for heights and a decent ladder is invaluable for gutters and high windows. A member who paints and decorates for a living can show the rest of us how to do a proper cutting-in job. Anyone with a van can save a dozen trips to the tip.

Start With the Deep Clean

Begin with the dirt that has quietly settled in over winter, because everything else looks better afterwards.

• Kitchen and tea hatch: descale the urn, clean the extractor filters, defrost the fridge, wipe down the inside of every cupboard and check dates on squash, biscuits and long-forgotten tins.
• Toilets and changing rooms: tackle limescale, wash the floors properly, clear slow drains and replace anything that has gone stiff or cracked.
• Main hall: dust the high corners, wipe every chair and table, clean the inside of the windows as well as the outside, and polish the glass on the trophy cabinet.
• Entrance: sweep the step, wash the door and its frame, clear leaves from the gully and make sure the welcome sign is legible and level.

Painting, Repairs and the Small Jobs

Some of the most satisfying work is the least glamorous. A fresh coat of paint on a tired doorframe lifts the whole building, and a wobbly handrail quietly tells visitors the place is neglected. Put a few people on these tasks while the cleaning is going on elsewhere.

• Touch up gloss on doors, skirting and window sills, and paint the outside sills with a suitable exterior finish.
• Treat wooden benches, tables and the rails around the green surrounds, checking for splinters as you go.
• Tighten loose hinges, replace missing screws and rehang any door that scrapes along the floor.
• Replace cracked rink numbers, repair the noticeboard, and make sure the club's signage is straight and clean.
• Weed between the paving slabs, trim back anything overhanging the path and clear the gutters before the spring rain arrives.

Sorting the Kit and Equipment

Warmer weather means more people using more things, so take the chance to check what the club actually has.

• Inspect mats, jacks, wedges, scoreboards and ditch markers, setting aside anything worn or damaged for replacement.
• Clear out lockers and the equipment shed, returning stray bowls and shoes to their owners or to the spare sets.
• Restock the first aid kit and check expiry dates on the defibrillator pads, fire extinguishers and any medication kept on site.
• Test the floodlights, timers and watering system, and replace washers on outside taps and hosepipe connections.

Light Refreshments and Looking After Everyone

Nobody works well on an empty stomach. Ask one or two members to run the kitchen for the morning rather than helping with the heavy work, so the tea and coffee keep flowing and a hot snack appears mid-morning. Bacon rolls, soup and a plate of biscuits go a long way towards making a working party feel like a social occasion, which is exactly what it should be.

A few practical points keep the day safe and pleasant. Bring gloves, wear old clothes, and use sunscreen if the sun makes an appearance. Nobody should be working at height alone, and ladders belong on firm, level ground with somebody footing them. Paint tins, brushes and old cleaning products need disposing of properly rather than being left in the shed for another year. Before everyone drifts home, walk round together, note what still needs doing, and agree a short rota for the weekly wipe-down and monthly checks that will keep the clubhouse looking this good through to September.

Turn up for an hour or stay for the morning, whatever suits. Every pair of hands makes the job lighter, and the club will be ready to welcome the season properly.