Visually-impaired individuals in the Amman Valley are set to be bowled over by a new club

The Amman and Gwendraeth Blind Society held their first visually-impaired bowls taster session at Ammanford Bowls Club this week with Welsh champion Julie Thomas guest of honour.

Society chairman Linda Rees said activities such as the bowls sessions provided a vital opportunity for visually-impaired people.

“We hope these sessions will get people out and about,” said Mrs Rees.

“It is vital for people to have somewhere they can go.

“When you are visually-impaired you often feel isolated – even from your own family.

“Groups like these allow people to get together and have fun.

“It is very different from a support group where people are expected to sit around talking. This gets people out of the house and allows them to enjoy themselves.”

Ammanford mayor Andrew Lewis, who kicked off the taster session with a few bowls, said: “These sessions are a great opportunity for visually impaired people to get involved with sport.

"It is a superb chance for them to take part in a fun activity and enjoy themselves."

Wales team manager John Wilson said: “Visually-impaired people are no different from anyone else.

“They want the chance to get out of the house and take part.

“Bowls is an ideal sport as it offers real benefits to people who are visually impaired.

“There are the obvious health benefits of taking part in a physical activity, but there are many benefits to mental health too.

“The most important thing though is it is chance for people to get out of the house, make friends and do something enjoyable with their time.

“I would like to congratulate the management at Ammanford Bowls Club because they are putting their money where their mouth is to prove they are an inclusive club.”

Thomas, who retained her Welsh title in June, was first crowned in 2014 just three months after taking up the sport.

“I had never even considered taking up bowls before I lost my sight,” said the former headteacher.

“After I lost my sight I had a difficult time – you lose your sense of who you are, but since taking up bowls I have found a renewed sense of self-worth.

“I struggled at first, but bowls game has had a fantastic impact on my life.

“I now feel a real sense of achievement and I am doing things I could never have done when I could see. I am now achieving things that I had never dreamt possible before.”