The Golf Foundation was delighted to deliver golf to over 70 children over the Easter Holidays as part of the Lincolnshire Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) initiative. The Government funded programme provides free holiday clubs for youngsters pupils in receipt of benefits-related free school meals.
The charity visited three schools in the Gainsborough area over two days of the Easter holidays, delivering fun sessions with the adapted Golfway equipment that allows anyone to pick up and play the game, and learn important life skills along the way.
The pupils, who were from Parish Church CE, Castle Wood, and Benjamin Adlard, were all glowing with their enthusiasm after their first experience with a golf club.
“I didn’t think I would even be able to hit the ball,” said one of the youngsters taking part. “But once we got going, I was actually alright. It was really fun, so I’ll definitely give it a go again!”
“I’m going to ask my mum to buy a club!” added another.
The sessions were part of the Golf Foundation’s ongoing outreach with community organisations across the UK. The charity believes that the individual elements of golf, and the reflection time between shots, give it a unique place in the sporting world, and means it can teach important mental wellbeing skills to children, at a time when they need it most. The Golf Foundation works with Premier League community programmes, several inner city youth initiatives, and a number of Holiday Activity and Food programmes as they seek to make a difference by bringing golf to children who would not normally have access to the sport.
The HAF programme is designed to ensure a high-quality experience for children that will result in receiving healthy and nutritious meals and maintaining a healthy level of physical activity. Children who attend HAF develop a greater understanding of food, nutrition and other health-related issues and have the opportunity to take part in fun and engaging activities.
Children and young people attending a HAF club will also have the opportunity to have fun, meet new friends, socialise, learn new skills, encounter new experiences and gain confidence whilst enjoying happy, healthy holidays.
“Thanks to support from The R&A, we are able to offer this golf experience to a whole new audience of young people in Lincolnshire,” added Stacey McNicholas, a Regional Development Officer with the Golf Foundation. “It’s brilliant to be able to introduce the sport to these children, who tried the game with a smile and a laugh, and to see their confidence and concentration growing while their enjoyment never dipped. This is the heart of what we do, and it’s always a pleasure to support vital initiatives like the Holiday Activity and Food programme – any help we can give to keep the kids active is important.”