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Chairman's Foreword - About BAWA
BAWA is a members' association that has been growing and developing since 1942. We are a ‘not-for-profit’ organisation offering healthcare and leisure services to our members with the aim of promoting good health and wellbeing. At present, BAWA boasts over 9000 members.
Rolls-Royce Plc, Airbus UK, BAE Systems and GKN Aerospace employees make up the traditional core of our membership however more and more employers have realised the benefits of offering BAWA membership to their staff and the list is growing considerably. We now include the likes of South Gloucestershire Council, North Bristol NHS Trust, MBDA and John Lewis Partnership employees amongst our members, to name but a few. This growth in the constituent company base is beneficial as it allows further enhancement to the services we offer all of our members.
Besides our provision of excellent healthcare cover, our extensive Leisure Centre complex hosts premier entertainment acts and we offer ever-improving Sports and Leisure facilities along with a superb Conference and Events centre.
Our website aims to help you find out exactly what BAWA has to offer and how our services can benefit you and/or your organisation.
Personal Message
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“In my role as Chairman I aim to continue to improve and develop the services that BAWA offers its members. Last year the Ballroom was refurbished to a very high standard, the Pavilion was redecorated from top to bottom, the hot water supply in our indoor changing rooms was improved and Conference Room 7 was remodelled. There has been a concerted energy saving initiative across the site and I am pleased to report that the savings are starting to show.
I am delighted and proud that BAWA recently received national recognition at the Club Mirror awards in Manchester. It is a testament to the dedication of all of the staff at the Leisure Centre for BAWA to win the Club of The Year Award - 'King of Clubs'. The commitment of our Leisure Centre Manager, Alex Clark, has been officially recognised with his 'Club Manager of The Year' award and I wholeheartedly congratulate him for this and wish to thank him and his wife Betty for their enduring dedication to BAWA over 26 years.
With regard to membership categories the cost of our bargain Sports Membership for Constituent Company employees is just £1.50 per week for a fourth year. Additionaly in this current economic climate we froze the cost of all of our membership categories for 2010. The Prize Draw has undergone its three year review and exciting changes have taken place.
Do have a look through this website to see all that we offer our members - you will be surprised!
I finish by thanking all of our staff for their invaluable contribution in making BAWA the officially recognised success that it is.”
Jim Bishop, Chairman of BAWA |
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Past, Present & Future
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| Sports ground at Filton with old Pavilion |
The Bristol Aeroplane Company Welfare Association was founded by Sir G Stanley White in 1942 to provide a centralised service for sickness pay and sports and social activities for employees of the Bristol Aeroplane Company. The “Welfare” soon became a very integral part of life at the “BAC”.
In 1959 Bristol Aeroplane Company split to become the British Aircraft Corporation and Bristol Siddeley Engines. During the following years various divisions and takeovers occurred, with the Welfare Association remaining central throughout.
In 1973 the Bristol Aeroplane Company Welfare Association underwent a subtle name change to become the Bristol Aerospace Welfare Association and the acronym BAWA was born.
In 1992 the Bristol Aerospace Welfare Association had a further name change and became BAWA Healthcare and Leisure. 
Today, the major companies which evolved from the former Bristol Aeroplane
Company are Rolls-Royce plc, BAE Systems plc and Airbus UK. These
companies are at the heart of BAWA Healthcare and Leisure’s
membership and additionally we have members employed by our newer
constituent companies. The conference and leisure facilities generate
enough income to enable BAWA to continually enhance its services,
hence the recent major refurbishments of the Ballroom, Pavilion
and Fitness centre.
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Members of the BAC drama club in
a performance of "Burning Gold" |
A policy is in place to ensure ongoing maintenance and development
of the services and facilities at BAWA Healthcare and Leisure. This
means that members will continue to receive the best value and the
highest possible quality.
BAWA is exceptionally keen to support the local community. Every year
many generous donations are made to a variety of local charities.
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