Our disability sports club is one big family that keeps growing
Boccia is a sport that brings people together, not just through competition but through the shared experience of playing. The sound of friendly rivalry can be heard even in places like a church car park, where voices blend with the soft thud of leather on wood. The only time the room falls silent is when a player rolls their ball toward the jack at the center of the space; the reaction—whether groans or cheers—determines the outcome.
This is boccia, a disability sport similar to bowls, which requires precision and control. It’s not just about scoring points for a team; it’s also about the physical and mental engagement involved. At Ebenezer Baptist Church in Scarborough, games are played for social benefits, but there’s still a sense of competition.
Alan Banks, chairman of ScarBoccia, stands in the middle of the room with a plastic bag full of sweets as a reward for the winners. The session includes people with various disabilities, and the team prides itself on being inclusive. “Anyone can play, whether they have a disability or not,” he says. “We have a whole range of people playing, and the stimulation and exercise they get from it might not seem like much, but they don’t realize how much their arm muscles are working.”
Boccia became a Paralympic sport in 1984 and now has around 554 internationally ranked players, according to its governing body, World Boccia. Alan, who is registered blind, plays in the BC7 category for Boccia England. He joined ScarBoccia more than a decade ago when the group had only about 25 members. Since then, the club has grown significantly, reaching 450 players today.
Sessions are now offered five days a week across Scarborough, Cayton, Norton, and Whitby. “It’s become one big family,” Alan says. “People come every week to see friends and enjoy the game.” However, growth comes with challenges, including the cost of hiring rooms and purchasing equipment. A set of boccia balls can cost around £280, and specialist ramps for players with limited mobility can start at over £1,000.
The club recently received a grant from Sport England, but it needs to match the funding. To meet this goal, they’ve launched an appeal to raise money by December.
Support worker Leslie has accompanied her client Stuart to sessions for two years, though she jokes that her own boccia skills haven’t improved much.
“The thing that stands out for Stuart is that he loves it—he comes every week,” she says. “It’s a fun activity that includes everyone, no matter their level. Everyone is able to come here, win, and have a really good laugh.”
Shirley Carradice, co-coordinator at ScarBoccia, hopes the club can continue growing and reach more people, especially those in isolated communities. “Right now, it’s just me and Alan, and we’re trying to fit everyone in,” she says. “If we had someone who could be trained to work in nursing homes and similar settings, we could expand further in the community.”
For Shirley’s partner, Murat, today is his first time joining a session. “As a person with a disability myself, I found it very emotional,” he says. “Groups like ScarBoccia weren’t accessible to me when I was growing up.”
“Taking part, I understand why it makes them feel the way they do and why they’re so passionate about it. If I won the lottery, I’d fund it myself to keep it going because I know how much it means.”
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