Sport England, through the National Sports Foundation, has awarded £112,500 to the Golf Foundation to further enhance its level of support for local sport partnerships and its ‘Golf Roots’ inner-city project; work that will help to introduce thousands of children to golf in 2008.
The funding by Sport England through the NSF, which has been matched against some of the Golf Foundation’s R&A funding, means that the Foundation can embark on specific additional grass roots junior golf projects in 2008 backed by a £225,000 investment.
This investment is helping to fuel a growing momentum to make golf more accessible to children from all backgrounds and abilities. Many thousands of youngsters are playing Tri-Golf and Golf Xtreme in schools (more than 700,000 children were introduced to golf last year through Foundation initiatives) and a growing list of golf facilities are forging formal links with schools.
The Sport England through the NSF funding, combined with backing from Foundation supporter, Radio and TV presenter DJ Spoony, the European Tour and the British Golf Industry Association’s Grow Golf Fund, has meant that the Foundation has been able to more than double the size of its inner-city project, Golf Roots, for 2008. Children in 16 urban areas of England and Wales will be involved in sustainable projects designed to lead youngsters into golf clubs and driving ranges.
The funding will provide the opportunity to reach out further into non-traditional events and venues such as shopping centres and multi-sport festivals.
The investment also means the Golf Foundation can take on an additional 21 School Links projects and 21 Community Links venues (golf facilities welcoming youngsters for coaching), run 84 training workshops for teachers and volunteers, and organise an ambitious local initiative in the Merseyside and Southport area linked to The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
This work will benefit more than 6,500 youngsters new to golf.
Mike Round, chief executive of the Golf Foundation, said, “We are really grateful for this great show of support from Sport England through the National Sports Foundation. Our golf projects are trying to reach youngsters from all backgrounds and circumstances and offer them the enjoyment and personal development benefits that golf can bring. This aim to grow the game, working with the national golf partnerships, is starting to have significant impact and we are highly appreciative of all the support we receive. We are now seeking to redouble our efforts to build on the momentum achieved this year.”
Thomas Godfrey, commercial director of Sport England, said, “Young golf players up and down the country will benefit from extra funding into the sport. We are pleased that the Golf Foundation is working to find new ways of getting people excited about their sport.
This is vital if Sport England is going to achieve its ambition of getting more people, who have not been given the opportunity before, to take part in sport.”
National Sports Foundation www.nationalsportsfoundation.org
Golf Foundation www.golf-foundation.org