A Swindon group dedicated to the care of adults with learning difficulties and mental health issues held a bowling event last week.

The Open Door Centre, based at St Barnabas Church Hall on Ferndale Road, is a day resource for adults with learning disabilities and mental health issues.

A spokesperson for the charity said: “The Open Door exists to make a positive difference in the lives of adults with LD, enabling our members to achieve their highest potential.”

“We encourage our members to be independent adults, understanding their rights and choices in order to become respected, confident and valued members of society, and ultimately to exercise some control over their own lives.”

The Centre had an outing to go bowling with a tournament against Swindon’s visually impaired bowling team, The Swindon Bats, held on Thursday, November 3.

The group played two games across four lanes and were beaten by The Bats at the event funded by the Zurich Community Trust, but fun was had by all attending.

“Unfortunately, we didn't win but everyone had a blast,” read The Open Door Centre’s official Twitter account.

Joe Chisnall, 19, has been an Apprentice Activity Coordinator at The Open Door Centre since September of last year and the importance of such events is not lost on him.

“It is a good opportunity for these people to take part in sports that they would normally be excluded from,” he said.

“For the Swindon Bats, it gives them a chance to show that they are not held back in any way.”

The Open Door team wore special glasses when playing which allowed them to see from the impaired perspective of their opponents, which they suffer from in everyday life.

“Some of the goggles blocked out one eye, whereas others create lots of tiny holes to simulate visual impairment,” explained Mr Chisnall.

The Open Door Centre group has held similar sporting events in the past for its members, such as the Superhero Series Triathlon in August.

“We try to do one event per month,” added Mr Chisnall.

The group was set up in 1985 by Jennifer Stacey, who still helps at the centre.

To keep up with the latest news from the group, you can find the link to their Facebook page here where updates are posted regularly.