ABOUT US
GBBF
The Great Britain Boccia Federation (GBBF) was formed in 2007 to meet the growing need for Boccia to
have a co-ordinated Great Britain wide approach to the development of the elite level of the
sport.
Previously 'Great Britain' had only competed as a unified team at the Paralympic Games. The Home Countries had sent separate teams to European Championships, World Championships and World Cups. These events contribute to world ranking positions and prior to 2007 Great Britain would only qualify for the Paralympic Games based on the position of the highest ranked Home Country. Now Great Britain attend these championships and are able to send the best players from across England, Scotland and Wales in one unified team. The Home Countries continue to send representative teams to non ranking events.
The GBBF is a member of the Boccia International Sports Federation (BISFed).
Membership
The membership of the GBBF is as follows; Boccia England, Scottish Disability Sport, the Federation of Disability Sport Wales and Disability Sport Northern Ireland. Each member can nominate one Director to serve on the Board of the GBBF. There is also an independent Chair and two independent Directors. The current Board is as follows:
- David Hadfield (Chair) - Independent
- Lara Hayward - Independent
- John Dowson - Independent
- Paul Chambers - Boccia England
- Heather Lowden - SDS
- Gerwyn Owen - FDSW
- Kevin O'Neill - DSNI
World Class Performance Programme funding
The GBBF is a company limited by guarantee and receives an award from UK Sport for the running of its World Class Performance Programme. This funding is primarily used for the following:
- Formulating and implementing a World Class Performance Plan for GB Boccia
- Preparing Great Britain athletes and teams for participation in world ranking events with the aim of qualifying a BC1/2 team, BC3 pair and BC4 pair for the Paralympic Games
- Establishing appropriate policies and protocols for the development of athletes, coaches and officials across Great Britain, for delivery by the member agencies
