About Us

Learn about Swindon Bats Sports and Social Club for the Visually Impaired

 

A Brief History

The Swindon Bats Sports & Social Club was first formed in February 2006 when, following a
‘have-a-go day’ organised by British Blind Sport and Wiltshire Blind Association (now Wiltshire
Sight), a group of visually impaired people decided to meet regularly to play tenpin bowling.

In November 2006 Swindon was represented in British Blind Sports Tenpin Bowling summer league finals for the first time and were able to finish 12th in the country.

By June 2007 two Swindon Bats teams got through to the winter league finals held in Sheffield
and one of these teams came 3rd. We continue to be successful and our teams have won several trophies over a number of years with both The NBTBA and British Blind Sport Tenpin.

In January 2008 a group of members decided that it would be good to have somewhere to meet on a regular basis where visually impaired people could learn from each other how to cope with their sight loss and so the Monday Club was formed.

Swindon Bats became a registered charity in February 2011.

 

Swindon Bats Today:

“Our sight is set on inclusion”

Our mission to support local Visually Impaired People (VIPs) to access Sport and Social Activities continues! We want to help improve the physical and mental wellbeing to those facing sight loss.

We are now a Charity made up of a group of nearly 60 visually impaired individuals and volunteers working to enhance the lives of others with sight loss through friendship and a sense of belonging to combat loneliness and the hardship of sight loss.

Winners of The BBC Wiltshire Make a Difference Award 2023.

Photograph of bats members in Andrea Allison Becky and Cheryl. Receiving their make a difference award alongside Mark flay from Zurich also in the photo is a large check for £1, 250 which was one by the bats alongside the Pride of Swindon award.

Winners of The Pride of Swindon Award 2026.

Swindon Bats meet twice weekly for accessible Tenpin Bowling and weekly for our other Sports, Showdown and Lawn Bowls. In the Spring and Summer months we run Cycling and Sailing sessions with our fantastic local accessible organisations Moredon Sports Hub and Whitefriars Sailability.

We enjoy a host of social activities such as Indoor Kurling, Skittles nights and a weekly pub quiz.

With regular coffee and breakfast meet ups and a host of other day trips & activities throughout the year which can all be found on our Activities Page.

Swindon Bats makes a huge difference to those with sight loss in and around Swindon. We are a Charity run by VIPs for VIPs and we feel that this sets us apart from many other organised charities! We understand what it means to go through sight loss, that everyone’s journey is different and that it’s often a grieving process with multiple stages.

We try to bring eachother comfort, friendship and a sense of belonging and champion accessible Sport for all. No matter what stage of the journey you are at the door to Swindon Bats is always wide open!