Wheelchair basketball club launches Bolton sponsorship drive

The Bulls Disabled Sports Club, which has been running since 1982, has launched an ambitious new sponsorship campaign aimed at rebuilding the club after years of financial challenges.

The charity, based in Bolton, brings together disabled and non-disabled players and has seen athletes go on to represent Great Britain internationally.

DSC Bulls in action (Image: Hannah Tyler)

However, rising costs forced the club out of the National League seven years ago, while a lack of funding has also left it unable to replace vital equipment such as specialist basketball wheelchairs, which can cost more than £5,000 each.

Now, the club is hoping to turn things around with its new “Join the Herd” initiative.

The campaign is inviting 50 local businesses to sponsor them (Image: Hannah Tyler)

The campaign is inviting 50 local businesses to sponsor the team, with each company receiving branding on match-day kits as part of a wider business network.

Sponsorship packages start from £250 and include advertising opportunities, networking events and corporate experiences, with higher tiers offering additional benefits such as wheelchair basketball sessions and professional photoshoots.

John Caunce, chairperson of The Bulls Disabled Sports Club, said the scheme is about building partnerships rather than simply seeking donations.

He said: “We’re not asking for charity, we’re offering a genuine business partnership.

“Every sponsor joins a network of 50 local businesses, gets their name on the kit, and becomes part of something that’s been part of Greater Manchester for over forty years.

“Now we’re ready to grow again.”

The club has already taken steps towards that growth, recently launching its first-ever women’s team, which competed in the UK Wheelchair Basketball Women’s Cup in 2026.

(Image: Hannah Tyler)

Over the next three years, The Bulls hopes to establish a women’s side in the national league, develop a junior pathway, and return its senior team to the British Wheelchair Basketball National League.

Businesses interested in supporting the club can find out more at thebulls.org.uk.